Dragon House

About Dragon House

Dragon House suits travellers who want a base on Formentera with room to spread out rather than a hotel corridor. The property is a three-star apartment or villa in the Sant Francesc Xavier area, on the road that runs from the capital down to La Savina, 2 km from the town itself. Couples who cook for themselves, families who need a washing machine, and anyone arriving on the ferry with a car will find the layout practical.

This is a self-catering stay rather than a serviced hotel. The listed facilities include a kitchen, an oven, a dishwasher and a washing machine, plus a fireplace, a terrace and a garden. Three stars puts Dragon House in the straightforward, well-equipped bracket for the island. Free parking and pets allowed make it workable for a longer stay of a week or more, and the address keeps the port and the capital within a short drive.

Location: Sant Francesc Xavier

Dragon House sits on the Carretera La Savina Portossaler, the road linking the port with Sant Francesc Xavier, so the two anchors of a Formentera stay are both close. Sant Francesc Xavier, 2 km away, is the small capital, with a fortified 18th-century church built as a refuge, a market and the island's shops. La Savina, 2.7 km away, is where the ferries dock and where the Estany des Peix lagoon opens.

Cala Saona is 2.7 km from Dragon House in a straight line, and the island's signposted green routes and quiet lanes make bikes a sensible way to reach it. Bread, a bank and most errands are in Sant Francesc Xavier, a short cycle or drive away; a car, bus or taxi is easier for shopping and for the port with luggage. Late July and August bring the traffic; May, June, September and October stay calmer around the La Savina road.

Rooms and facilities

The listed facilities at Dragon House point to a self-contained stay: a kitchen with an oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator, a washing machine, an iron and board, and a safe. There is free wifi and internet access, a TV, a hairdryer and a fireplace for the cooler months. Outside, a terrace and a garden extend the living space, and car parking is free.

For families, the kitchen and washing machine cut the cost and fuss of eating out every night, and non-smoking rooms are listed. Guests arriving late off the last ferry should confirm key collection and arrival arrangements with Dragon House before travelling. The list also names water sports and skiing, so ask the property what those entries cover, and whether cleaning is daily or at the end of the stay.

Getting there

Formentera has no airport. Fly to Ibiza Airport (IBZ), about 7 km south-west of Ibiza Town, travel to the port in Ibiza Town and take a ferry to La Savina. Fast ferries take about 30-35 minutes, conventional ferries about an hour, and sailings are frequent in season and fewer in winter, so check the operators. From La Savina, Dragon House is 2.7 km away by road.

A taxi from La Savina covers the 2.7 km to Dragon House quickly, and the free parking at the property makes a hire car useful if you plan to explore beyond the capital. Bikes and scooters suit this flat island and its green routes. The Consell de Formentera caps visitor vehicles in high season, so check the current rules before booking a car for a Dragon House stay, and expect thinner bus and taxi supply in winter.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Saona, the island's one real cove, with red cliffs and a west-facing sunset, is 2.7 km from Dragon House in a straight line. The Estany des Peix, calm water for a kayak or paddleboard, is 1.7 km away, and the birdlife of the lagoons in Ses Salines Natural Park is 2.5 km off. Sant Francesc Xavier and its fortified church stand 1.9 km from the property.

Further out, the Ses Illetes sand spit, the Estany Pudent, the Espalmador islet, La Mola with the Far de la Mola lighthouse, and the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse make day trips from Dragon House, best done by bike or car. Island food is plain and good: peix sec (dried fish), island salads and fresh fish. Places to eat cluster in Sant Francesc Xavier, Es Pujols and along Platja de Migjorn.

A day from Dragon House

Start with the 1.7 km to the Estany des Peix for a paddle while the water is still flat, then continue the 1.9 km to Sant Francesc Xavier for the market and the fortified church before the day heats up. Coffee and a late breakfast fit around the square. From there, 2.5 km brings the edges of the Ses Salines lagoons, with birds and salt pans in the morning light.

After lunch back at Dragon House, the afternoon belongs to Cala Saona, 2.7 km away in a straight line, for a swim below the red cliffs and the west-facing sunset. Return the short distance to the property for the evening. Sant Francesc Xavier, 2 km off, has the nearest shops for a late errand, and La Savina port, 2.7 km away, is where the day boats come in.

Practical tips

Most of Formentera's tourist business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm the opening dates of Dragon House before booking a winter stay; the main towns stay open year-round, and ferries are fewer outside the season. Peak demand falls in late July and August, when the lanes near Sant Francesc Xavier fill and vehicle limits apply. A sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation, at rates that vary with the type and category of the property and with the season, reduced in low season and for longer stays, with children under 16 exempt; check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rates.

Questions about Dragon House