Calle Joan Castello Guasch 48, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, Spain
Conveniently positioned in the center of Formentera
Several restaurants and bars within walking distance
Clean rooms with balconies or terraces
Restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Two alfresco terraces with shade and comfy seating
Open all year round
Dated and old-fashioned throughout
No beaches within walking distance
No pool or bar
Some rooms prone to traffic noise
No Wi-Fi in the rooms
The Hostal Illes Pitiuses is a value-oriented, family-run hotel positioned on a main road in the center of Formentera. Its central location is a real asset for those looking to explore the island, with almost everything within a 15-minute drive. All 25 guest rooms are certainly dated with tatty furniture and limited amenities, but are clean and open to balconies or terraces. There's an all-day restaurant with a pleasant rear terrace, and it's also one of the few of the island's hotels open all year. Those looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly base are unlikely to be disappointed, though for cheap and modern accommodation closer to beaches, check out the Apartamentos Sabina Playa, next to the ferry port.
Scene
Simple family-run hotel attracts budget-conscious tourists and business guests
Part of a three-story property shared with a bank and a general store, the entrance to the Hostal Illes Pitiuses is marked by a small, low-walled patio lined with greenery and dominated by a single fig tree. Guest enter a spartan lobby set with an unstaffed reception desk, dated mixture of furniture, and scrappy information board. Reception is actually on the next floor up, and not open around the clock (late arrivals should warn the hotel in advance). The guest rooms are spread over two floors and there's no elevator. While the interiors and hotel as a whole are very much stuck in the last century -- this family-run business dates back to the early '80s -- it's one of the cheapest options on an expensive island. It's also just one of the few hotels in the area that's open all year, attracting budget-conscious tourists in the summer and more business related guests over the winter months.
Location
Central, inland position with the whole island within an easy drive
The hotel's location is its biggest asset. Set in the village of Sant Ferran de ses Roques, situated right in the middle of the Formentera, practically nowhere on the island takes more than 15 minutes' drive. There's also a few restaurants, car rental agencies, and banks within walking distance. While quiet off-season, the main road the hotel overlooks can get busy with traffic over the summer months. The nearest beach is at the resort of Es Pujols, a five-minute drive away. Ses Illetes -- named best beach in Europe by TripAdvisor in 2016 -- is about a 10-minute drive. The ferry port of La Sabina is also around 10 minutes. There's no airport on Formentera, with the only access via ferry crossing from Ibiza taking just under an hour.
Rooms
Simple and dated, though clean and comfortable rooms with balconies or terraces
The hotel has 26 single, double, and triple rooms. Though they're clean and spacious, they're also undeniably dated with dark terrazzo-tile flooring, tatty wood furniture, and old-fashioned textured walls. Amenities are limited to small flat-screen TVs, electronic safes, and air-conditioning units, with no Wi-Fi or refreshment facilities. All rooms open to balconies or terraces, either overlooking neighboring fields, the rear garden, or the road, which can get busy over the summer season. Bathrooms are functional with either shower/tub combos or shower stalls, plus a set of generic toiletries.
Features
On-site restaurant with shaded rear terrace and weekend barbecues
There's very little in the way of on-site facilities at Hostal Illes Pitiuses, though its restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving a mix of Mediterranean and international dishes. Breakfast is not included in the room rates. Over the summer months, the restaurant fires up a barbecue on its rear terrace, which also has comfy seating and parasols. Free parking is also available on-site. Free Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant only.