Gecko Hotel & Beach Club

Pure magic. Had read some of the mixed reviews and almost didn’t book Gecko but am still thanking God that I did. This hotel left me in a daze; the property was pure bliss, huge lawns, plentiful pool chairs and bali beds, no “minimums” for the best ones, beautiful dining room with amazing food, and best of all INCLUDED beach chairs right on the most sandy stretch of beach on Playa Migjorn. I visited a few other areas of Migjorn and many of the other hotels “on the beach” are really on rock and coral beds, not sandy parts. The room was confortable and well-appointed, balcony had a great view even for the basic room. The staff were probably the best part, especially the head waiter in the restaurant and front desk staff. They greet you by name and remember your room number, they make you feel like a regular who has returned home. I cannot recommend this property enough. Front desk will also reserve pool or beach chairs for you if you ask the night before but I had no problem getting one at all even with the hotel full. The beach chairs being right on the sand and included for hotel guests (contrary to prior reviews) was really a huge bonus!

Formentera is a magical destination and The Gecko Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy this natural and unspoilt island. Being our second trip here, we were delighted to find it unchanged with the same staff as friendly as ever. The food is always great and the chilled and relaxed atmosphere is a tonic for the soul.

We enjoyed the beautiful hotel. The staff was very helpful and kind. The massage was perfect. The dinner was lovely. The breakfast was excellent. The environment with direct access to a beautiful beach. We definitely will come back here.

Twenty fours at this hotel made perfectly clear why the property is not listed as recommended by Forbes or any other luxury travel rating service. From arrival to departure, the property was severely lacking and the negligence and indifference of the staff prompted us to prepare a Spanish reclamation form against the hotel. Summary up front: unimpressive facilities, ambivalent staff, and the kicker being a near death experience on bikes rented from the hotel which didn´t have front and rear lighting for night travel. After almost a month of planning our Anniversary and emails with the hotel for a pickup service (quoted at 90 euro whereas taxi was 17 euros), we flew all the way over from Miami and arrived at the principal port of Formentera were we received an email that because we arrived 15 minutes late, the Hotel couldn’t pick us up and left us waiting in the Taxi Line for 2 hours with no alternative transportation offered by the Hotel. For example, waiting an additional 15 minutes for another car rather than the two hours for a taxi would have been preferable, but no such proactive communication assistance was offered. Fabulous start to an anniversary, right? A bit tired from the trip, we checked in with the front desk who made no effort to apologize or recognize the lack of assistance offered. Instead, we checked in, dropped out bags in the room and preceded with plans for a day on the island. More on this later, but the room itself was a joke. The mattress was rock hard, the sheets felt threadbare and cheap, the pillows were thiner than tissue paper, and the toiletries were some unbranded discount product. Since we had a lunch reservation in the opposite side of the Island and a Dinner Reservation in the 2nd largest town Es Pujol, we discussed with the hotel if they advised us to take Taxis or enjoy "a wonderful experience with Electric Bikes" from the hotel that turned into a Nightmare... NO ONE of the staff warned us the Island is completely dark at night, despite advising that the trip included a dinner reservation. After completing the contracting with the front desk, which they were very insistent on getting a signature for the 50 euro per bike costs, it then took four staff members to show how to turn on the electric bikes. At no point was any safety check or safety demonstration offered. Like you, reader, having rented bikes both electric and non'electric all of the world, you know theres always a safety check. Well, not at the Gecko. After lunch and dinner, we mounted the hotel´s bikes and realized after leaving Es Pujol, that the front and back lights for the bike were not working. We turned the battery on and off, checked the lights, pressed on the lights, nothing. Seeing as the journey back required travel through dark roads with with not a single light in the streets, we contemplated calling the hotel to ask for a pick up of the bikes. We thought otherwise after it took the hotel nearly twenty minutes to produce the wifi prop