Insotel Club Maryland

Formentera is a stunning place, but this hotel doesn’t do justice to its beautiful grounds and surroundings. We arrived around 1pm as planned and couldn’t access our room until after 3pm because of the hotel’s policy. We’d never had that happen before. There was no late checkout, so we had 6+ hours without a room on the last day. Altogether we spent 9 hours of the stay 'homeless'. The accommodation at Insotel Club Maryland is 2* quality at best. Despite being called bungalows, they’re two storey blocks, more like maisonettes. The decor and furniture look straight out of the 1980s, are badly maintained and poor quality, and the beds are rock hard. Basically, the rooms need updating. There’s no air conditioning, WiFi, safe, kettle, iron or remotely watchable TV. Ground floor terraces are small, with old cheap plastic patio furniture. The sliding doors can easily be opened from outside even when 'locked'. The ceiling fans kind of worked in mid to late September, but I dread to think how hot and humid it gets in July and August. The shower pressure was very low, and the water kept changing from hot to cold by itself. Our first room, 260, had a strong dirty, musky smell. Within a few hours a puddle began spreading from under the bathroom floor into the hall and kitchen, and it smelled like wastewater. A maintenance person came quickly but wrongly diagnosed the problem and was rude and hostile when challenged. A maid cleaned it up, but it returned within an hour, which a reception team member saw. We were offered another place that was even worse, then moved to a different bungalow the next day. Reception staff were beyond useless, though the maids and restaurant and bar staff were great. Rooms were 'cleaned' daily and came with 'fresh' towels. Food from the main buffet was poor, bland and repetitive. For 10 days we didn’t get anything hotter than lukewarm unless we ate locally or in San Francesc. Dinner starting at 7.30pm felt a bit late, and tea and coffee were only available at breakfast in the main restaurant. The walk to the restaurant, pool and beach is especially brutal in the afternoon sun. Many people struggled. If you have even slight mobility issues or aren’t reasonably fit, I’d strongly advise booking elsewhere on the island. British visitors are a minority, usually a plus, and most guests were Spanish and German. Like others, we found most fellow guests rude, loud, disrespectful and selfish. The crying and screaming kids into the early hours were disturbing. I can see how the hotel might appeal to young families on a budget, but I couldn’t in good faith recommend it to anyone outside that group. The layout, facilities, rooms and food are that bad. The on-site shop wasn’t restocked during our 10 days and ran out of bottled water and other basics. The hotel should close for a year to upgrade its facilities to 21st century standards and train new management and reception staff.

The food and service were good, and the location is why I’ve stayed here twice. It’s a pity they don’t upgrade the rooms. They’re dark, and the tiny terrace gets no sun. Since it opens off the sitting room onto a public walkway, there’s no privacy there either.

It’s a beautiful setting on a huge site, with three pools and lots of food choices, all cooked well. The accommodation is basic but clean, with fresh towels every day and the beds made. Reception were always extremely helpful, and when my son was injured, the poolside team went above and beyond. The only downside, and it’s a small one, is that you definitely need a bus or taxi to get pretty much anywhere.

The pools were clear and not crowded, the beach was enjoyable, and the shows were entertaining. We had cold drinks, delicious food, affordable prices, and rooms cleaned every day. The staff were friendly and so helpful. Amir and Omar at reception handled every problem and need with a great attitude. Thanks for such an outstanding experience. Amazing place, everything was great.