The honest review of Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor
Fat Score
Guests describe department heads introducing themselves on day one, a GM personally greeting arrivals, and staff remembering names and wine preferences within a day.
The rebuild kept the original 1929 footprint but turned every room toward the sea, with floor-to-ceiling windows and interiors people call the best-designed rooms of any Four Seasons they've tried.
The Formentor peninsula setting is dramatic and secluded, but the only road in is narrow, shared with tour buses and huge cyclist packs, and runs 60-90 minutes from Palma.
Shima's Japanese-Peruvian tasting menu gets singled out as the best meal of the stay repeatedly while Mel draws complaints about small portions for the price.
The gym is praised as unusually well-equipped for Europe with Technogym kit, and the spa gets solid marks, though the beach itself has no on-sand food or drink service by law.
The Verdict
This is a former 1929 hotel rebuilt inside its original footprint, with every single room turned to face the water instead of the hill behind it, and it shows: even the entry-level Pine View rooms get a partial sea view. Base rooms run from roughly $1,200 to $1,800 a night in shoulder season, climbing past $2,000 in July and August, and what arrives for that money is genuinely different from most Four Seasons: department managers introducing themselves in your first two days, a GM who greets families personally, staff who remember a toddler's name by dinner two. The pool, spa and gym (proper Technogym kit, rare for a European hotel gym) all land well, and Shima, the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, is the one thing almost nobody leaves off their highlight list.
The trade-off is the peninsula itself. The only road in is a narrow, cyclist-choked mountain route that can take well over an hour from Palma, and more than one couple has cancelled every dinner reservation off property rather than drive it after dark. On site, you're down to two real dinner restaurants (Mel draws complaints about portions not matching its prices), so a week here without a car or the hotel boat to Port de Pollença can start to feel repetitive by night four or five. The beach is public and, by Spanish law, has no chair-side food or drink service, which catches first-time Four Seasons guests off guard.
Book this for families and couples who want to disappear onto a private-feeling estate rather than tour the island: the kids' program, the separated adult and family pools, and the sheer scale of the grounds all support a slow, do-nothing week. If your idea of a Mallorca trip is town-hopping to Deià or Sóller every other night, pair it with a few nights somewhere more central rather than trying to base here for six or seven straight, and go for the boat transfer over the road if the schedule lets you.
166 signals from multiple independent sourcesReports span May 2025 – Jul 2026Refreshed Aug 2026Next refresh Oct 2026How this works
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What People Say
It's smaller than a typical Four Seasons and reminds me a bit of Cap Ferrat in feel.
There will definitely be other guests around, and the beach itself is public, so this isn't an ultra-private tiny hotel. That said, it feels relatively intimate for a Four Seasons. One tip: skip the plunge pool rooms, since anyone above can see straight down into them.
I'd pair this with La Residencia for a mix of mountain exploring and remote beach time.
I'd suggest 3 nights at La Residencia with a day trip to Sóller, then 4 nights here with a boat day around Cap de Formentor or a day trip to Port de Pollença that the hotel can arrange. Both are surrounded by beautiful nature and private beaches with amazing restaurants. This combination gave us the best of both worlds on the island.
This is genuinely family-friendly in a way that's rare on the island.
The beach club on property and the calm, protected water made this an easy choice for us with a toddler. Nearby towns are lovely and relatively easy to reach. I had zero worries traveling with a small child here; the hotel clearly has this figured out.
The experience is as good as advertised, but not being able to get beach service to your chair is a notable gap for a Four Seasons.
The beach is beautiful and the public-access rules are what they are, since Spanish law prohibits chair-side food and drink service. I understand it's a legal requirement rather than a choice by the hotel, but at these rates it still registers as a real negative.
This exceeded every expectation and is one of the most memorable hotel stays I've had.
From arrival the service was impeccable, warm and effortlessly professional. The property combines elegant design with breathtaking coastal views. Dining was exceptional throughout, with fresh local ingredients and impeccable presentation at every meal, and the pool, spa and private beach access made it easy to completely unwind.
Beautiful but a bit isolated, and the food let it down.
We had a ground floor room with a private pool and it was beautiful. Staff were excellent throughout. The food, though, was pretty bad for what we were paying.
This feels more like a private estate than a traditional resort, but know what you're signing up for with the drive.
We arrived late after flight delays and Four Seasons had someone waiting at baggage claim in Palma, but the drive itself is about 60-70 minutes with very winding mountain roads shared with cyclists. I'd recommend arriving by boat if timing allows, since it completely changes the experience. Once there, service was one of the biggest strengths: staff consistently remembered our names and preferences, and leaned into helping us experience the estate itself, hiking, boating, and wine, rather than just pushing dining reservations. The grounds are huge with pine forests, vineyards and multiple levels connected by stairs, so guests with mobility issues will lean on the golf carts.
Formentor is one of the most beautiful places I've seen, but go in knowing what the road access really means.
On our drive we counted 183 cyclists and 16 tour buses on a five-mile stretch of road; it's dangerous and aggravating enough that my husband refused to drive at night, so we cancelled every off-property dinner we'd planned. The on-site restaurants are excellent, but with only two real dinner venues you'll run through the options faster than you'd like on a longer stay. I also wish the pool area had clearer sightlines to the water since the trees block most of the view.
It's dangerous, it's aggravatingin their words
There aren't enough positive words for how this stay felt, right down to the massages.
The hotel is remote in the best way, tucked on the northern tip of the island with a public beach nearby so it never feels cut off from people entirely. We were greeted with a welcome fruit basket and staff addressed us by name and switched to Spanish once they realized we spoke it, even staff we'd never met before. Breakfast rivaled Parisian patisseries, and the spa massages were the best either of us has ever had. The two pools never felt crowded and the beach access, while public, stayed quiet too.
there aren't enough positive words to describe our experiencein their words
We spent a week here and I genuinely cannot recommend it more highly, especially traveling with our 16-month-old.
Our room had a stunning sea view and was kept spotless the entire week. The spa and gym were both excellent, the gym fully kitted out with proper equipment I used daily. What sold us was the staff: every single one was warm with our son, and the department managers came to introduce themselves in our first two days. We're already booking again for next year.
I couldn't speak more highly of this hotelin their words
We came back to see the hotel after its renovation and rebrand and left disappointed.
Reception was unfriendly and it took 20 minutes just to get someone to let us in. We waited three hours after arrival before anyone could show us our room. The old Spanish charm is completely gone, replaced by something oversized that could be anywhere. The one bright spot was the beach restaurant, where the meal and staff were genuinely lovely, but overall I'm not sure I'd book a holiday here again.
You could be anywhere in the worldin their words
I cried when it was time to leave; the staff felt like family by the end.
They thought of every detail for my birthday before I even asked, including handwritten notes at every restaurant and a cheesecake delivered to my room. On Mother's Day they organized a 'Get To Know Mom' game for my daughters to play with me. Shima is not just dinner, it's an experience, and my vegetarian tasting menu there was phenomenal. I'm already planning my return before I've even processed leaving.
Beautiful and expensive, so expectations were high, and they weren't always fully met.
Our suite was spacious and well equipped with a sea-facing terrace and a genuinely excellent bathroom, and housekeeping kept it immaculate all week. Shima was excellent with generous portions and attentive service, but Mel felt uneven, with small portions for the price. The most frustrating moment was waiting over 30 minutes for our luggage after the GM personally welcomed us, a small thing but not what you expect at this level.
As new parents on our first trip with a baby, everyone went above and beyond to make it seamless.
The bellmen immediately helped with our luggage, which was a relief with a pushchair and a baby in arms. Federica at check-in was warm and even checked in mid-stay to make sure everything was perfect. We ate at Mel for both breakfast and dinner, and Santi and Luca were fantastic, attentive and full of great recommendations. The pool area surrounded by greenery made our walks with the baby feel really special.
Of the three hotels we stayed at in Mallorca, this was our favorite by far.
The property and grounds were spectacular and service was outstanding from start to finish. Dinner at Mel was a highlight and the adult pool was peaceful with stunning mountain and water views. We took the hotel boat into Pollença one night for dinner, which was one of our favorite parts of the trip, though there's no private beach here, just a public one with plenty of loungers. The only real drawback was bees being a nuisance at the restaurants.
How we score
The 15 signals above are a handpicked editorial selection from 166 signals we gathered across dedicated luxury communities, guest reviews, and editorial publications. Every signal we gathered — not just the ones shown — feeds into the Fat Score and verdict above.
Credibility-weighted
Detailed trip reports from luxury communities and major editorial reviews carry the most weight. Brief ratings add context, not conviction.
Recency-adjusted
Recent experiences matter more. Renovations, management changes, and staff turnover all surface in fresh signals.
Consensus-driven
When independent sources agree on a strength or weakness, that signal gets amplified. One bad night doesn't tank a score.
Kept current
Scores are re-gathered and re-calculated from scratch, continuously — no score is ever more than a quarter old. Last re-scored August 12, 2026.
About Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is located on the Formentor peninsula in Mallorca, Spain, with direct access to a beach on protected, calm water. The resort's design and art incorporate the surrounding coastal landscape, and rooms include sea-facing terraces. The drive from Palma airport takes about an hour.
On property, guests have access to two restaurants, including Shima, a Japanese-Peruvian venue, and Mel, which serves breakfast and dinner. There is a beach club, two pools set among greenery, a spa, and a gym. The property is positioned as a base for exploring Mallorca's coastline and nearby towns, with car rental available for day trips off site.
Luxury amenities
- Private beach dock and boat transfers
- Shima Japanese-Peruvian restaurant
- Kids For All Seasons program
- Technogym-equipped 24-hour fitness center
- Adults-only and family pool areas
- On-site vineyard and wine experiences
- E-bike tours to the Formentor lighthouse
Social Vibe
What guests are sharing
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What fat travellers ask
How does Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor compare to nearby alternatives?
Guests who've done both this and Belmond's La Residencia in Deià generally find the Four Seasons rooms and service sharper and more contemporary, while La Residencia sits inside a walkable town with easier access to restaurants and day trips.
Who is Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor best for?
Families and couples happy to base themselves on property for most of a trip suit it best, given the kids' program, separated pools, and the driving hassle of getting off the peninsula for dinner.
Do you need a car to stay at Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor?
Not strictly, since the resort's own restaurants and beach cover daily needs, but a car or the hotel's boat to Port de Pollença opens up day trips; without either, some guests find the isolation limiting after several nights.
How does Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor compare to Cap Rocat?
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor is rated Fat Favorite at 17/20 on Fat Voyage; Cap Rocat is rated Fat Approved at 16.5/20. Both are scored across Service, Design, Location, Dining and Wellness from community, editorial and verified-guest evidence — the side-by-side comparison shows where each one leads.
How do I book Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor?
Two routes, and both end with the reservation sitting at the hotel in your name. Direct on the hotel's own site is the fastest — the Reserve button on this page goes straight to it. The other is through a travel advisor with consortia access: you pay the same rate the hotel is charging publicly, the hotel pays the advisor's commission instead of you, and an amenity package comes attached — breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 hotel credit — $200 on suites and private retreats, room upgrade to the next category, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. We handle that side ourselves for readers who ask.
What is the smartest way to book Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor?
Through a travel advisor with consortia access, for almost everyone. You pay the hotel's own public rate and an amenity package comes on top that direct booking doesn't include — typically breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 hotel credit — $200 on suites and private retreats, room upgrade to the next category, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. It costs nothing extra, because the hotel pays the commission rather than you. The one real exception is brand loyalty: advisor rates don't always earn nights toward status, so if you're chasing a tier or points, book direct. Short of that, there's no version of booking direct that leaves you better off. We're advisors ourselves, so you can just ask us.
Can I get a free room upgrade at Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor?
Never guaranteed — it depends on what's still unsold the day you arrive, and anyone promising one is guessing. Two things move the odds. The reliable one is booking through a consortia programme, where a room upgrade is written into the amenity package subject to availability; it costs nothing extra and it is the closest thing to a lever that exists. The other is telling the hotel in advance that you're celebrating something, which works more often than people expect. The first part is already handled if you book it with us.
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Key Details
Brand
Four Seasons · luxury
Fat Score
Fat Favorite · 17/20
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