Four Seasons Mallorca vs. La Residencia: I Stayed at Both, Here’s How They Compare

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Quick Comparison: Four Seasons Mallorca vs. La Residencia

	Four Seasons Mallorca	La Residencia
Location	Formentor Peninsula	Deià
Overall feel	Polished Mediterranean resort	Historic Mallorcan retreat
Best for	Beach, families, couples wanting a resort	Couples, culture, exploring, sense of place
Beach	Yes, directly at hotel	No
Pools	Family + adults areas	Family + adults + indoor spa pool
Kids	Excellent	Very good
Kids club	Yes (plus teen club)	Smile Club
Rooms	Contemporary and new	Traditional and full of character
Views	Sea / pine views	Mountains, village, gardens
Dining	More resort focused	More destination / local feeling
Activities	Beach, pools, water activities, kids programming	Hiking, tennis, village, art, cooking, excursions
Spa	Excellent	Smaller / more traditional
Getting around Mallorca	Very isolated	Easier for Serra de Tramuntana exploring
Ideal stay	3 to 5+ nights	2 to 4 nights
With young kids	Excellent	Very good
With a romantic couple’s trip	Excellent	Excellent

Four Seasons vs La Residencia Mallorca

Let’s get into the differences in various categories from location, style, etc.

1. The Biggest Difference: Location of Four Seasons Mallorca and La Residencia

If you’re deciding between Four Seasons Mallorca and La Residencia, I would start with location. These two hotels give you very different experiences of Mallorca, Spain and where you stay will have a big impact on how you spend your time. They are easily 1.5 hours driving distance apart from each other with plenty of winding roads!

In short, Four Seasons is along the beach and La Residencia is in the mountains, a short drive from the nearest beach.

Four Seasons Mallorca: A Destination Resort in Formentor

Four Seasons Mallorca is on the Cap de Formentor Peninsula, in a quiet and beautiful corner of northern Mallorca. The hotel sits right on Formentor Beach, surrounded by pine trees, mountains and the Mediterranean.

It feels very much like a destination resort. You are not staying here because you want to walk out of the hotel and explore a town. You are staying here because you want the hotel, beach, and setting to be a big part of the trip. And, that’s why I loved it!

Once we arrived, there wasn’t much reason to leave every day and in fact, we did not other than our boat trip. We could have breakfast, spend time at the beach, swim, have lunch, let the kids nap, head back to the pool and have dinner at the hotel. It was incredibly easy to relax here.

That does mean you need to be comfortable with the hotel’s more remote location. Getting in and out of Formentor involves driving through the winding roads and you’ll want to plan your excursions around the location rather than expecting to pop over to another town for dinner every night.

For us, this was actually a huge part of the appeal. We were traveling with a toddler and a baby, and having a beautiful resort where we could stay put for most of the day made the trip feel much easier.

If you want to explore a lot of Mallorca, though, this is something to consider. A day trip to Sóller, Deià or Palma will take more planning and driving from Formentor. It was easily an hour and half drive between the two hotels!

My take: Four Seasons is best thought of as a place where the hotel is part of the destination. If your dream Mallorca day involves a beautiful beach, a long lunch, time by the pool and nowhere you need to be, the location is a major plus.

La Residencia: In the Heart of Deià

La Residencia is almost the opposite experience.

Instead of being tucked away on a remote peninsula, the hotel is right in Deià, one of Mallorca’s most beautiful mountain villages. The property itself is spread across the hillside, surrounded by olive trees and the Tramuntana mountains. It is breathtaking.

And while La Residencia feels wonderfully secluded once you’re inside the hotel, you can actually walk into the village, though there’s not a TON to do there (it’s a small town of 300 residents).

That changes the feel of the stay quite a bit.

You can have breakfast at the hotel, wander into Deià for lunch or dinner, explore the village and then come back to the quiet of the property. You’re also well positioned for exploring this part of Mallorca, including Sóller, Valldemossa and Cala Deià!

One thing I think is worth knowing before you book: Deià can get very busy with day trippers. During the middle of the day, the village can feel much more crowded than you might expect from the peaceful photos of La Residencia.

But one of the lovely things about actually staying at La Residencia is that you get to experience Deià at different times of day. Once the day trippers leave, the village becomes much quieter and you have it more to yourself!

My take: La Residencia is the better fit if you want your Mallorca hotel to be a base for exploring rather than the entire destination. You can spend a quiet afternoon at the hotel and then walk into Deià for dinner or head out for a day of exploring.

So, Which Location Is Right for You?

This is probably the simplest way I can explain the difference:

Four Seasons Mallorca: You go there to settle in with true resort vacation feel.

La Residencia: You go there to relax and enjoy the hotel, but you also have a village and some of Mallorca’s most beautiful mountain towns right outside your door.

Neither location is necessarily better. They simply suit different trips and travel styles!

If you’re looking for a beach vacation where you can stay mostly at the resort, I would lean toward Formentor.

If you’re looking for a Mallorca trip centered around exploring, food, villages and the Serra de Tramuntana, Deià gives you much more in a more accessible way.

This difference is actually why I think the two hotels work so well paired together!

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2. Four Seasons Mallorca vs. La Residencia: Which Is Better for Families?

If you’re traveling to Mallorca with kids, this is one of the biggest differences between the two hotels.

Both Four Seasons Mallorca and La Residencia are family friendly, but they feel very different. Four Seasons feels intentionally designed for families, while La Residencia feels more like an adults oriented hotel that happens to be very welcoming to children if that makes sense!

Having stayed at both with my toddler and baby, I think either can work well for a family trip. The better fit really comes down to your kids’ ages and how you want to spend your days.

Four Seasons Mallorca with Kids

Four Seasons Mallorca was incredibly easy with young kids.

Between the beach, pools, kids club, teen club, dining and family friendly rooms, there is very little you need to plan once you’re at the resort.

The kids club and teen club are especially nice, with beautiful facilities and programming throughout the day. Older kids and teens have plenty to do beyond the pool. It was all very nice and well equipped!

For younger kids, the combination of the beach and pools is hard to beat.

There is a dedicated family pool as well as an adults only pool, which I really appreciated. We could spend the day swimming with the kids and still have quiet spaces that felt relaxing.

Having Formentor Beach right at the hotel makes a huge difference with little kids. The water is shallow and sandy, and we could easily head down for a swim without turning it into an outing. We could go between the beach and pool throughout the day, which is ideal when you’re traveling with little ones who don’t want to do the same thing for very long.

The hotel is also very well set up for families. High chairs are readily available, cribs can be arranged, there are children’s options at the restaurants and the property is manageable with a stroller, although there are some hills and resort paths to navigate.

The larger rooms and suites are also helpful with young kids. Once you travel with a crib, stroller and approximately 700 things that somehow need to come out of your suitcase every day, a little extra space goes a long way.

But Is Four Seasons Mallorca Still Good for Couples?

Yes! And this is something I would consider if you’re looking at Four Seasons for a honeymoon, anniversary or adults only trip.

If I had stayed here before having kids, I probably wouldn’t have noticed half of the family focused details. The kids club and family amenities don’t take away from the overall feel of the resort.

There are definitely families here, especially during school holidays, but the property is large enough that it doesn’t feel like everything revolves around children. The adults only pool and other adult oriented spaces give couples plenty of room to relax, and the beach and setting feel just as special without kids in tow.

It’s very easy to have a family vacation here without Four Seasons feeling like a family resort.

La Residencia with Kids

La Residencia is family friendly in a very different way.

There isn’t the same beach resort infrastructure you get at Four Seasons and I wouldn’t choose La Residencia specifically for a packed schedule of kids’ activities.

Instead, the hotel gives families a beautiful setting to experience Deià and the surrounding area together.

The Smile Club offers children’s activities and there are plenty of things to do around the property. Kids can swim, play tennis, explore the gardens and take part in activities like cooking. Check their website for kid activities, there’s really a lot!

There are also the animals, which I think younger kids will find much more exciting than another kids’ club. The property has donkeys and sheep, along with gardens and open space that make La Residencia feel more like a countryside escape.

There is a family pool, an adults only pool and an indoor pool at the spa, so there are still plenty of options for families.

With older kids, you can walk into the village, explore, stop for a meal or head out for a hike. Cala Deià is another option, and the hotel can help arrange transportation.

This is a different kind of family vacation. Instead of spending the day moving between the kids club, pool and beach, you’re more likely to spend a morning exploring and an afternoon back at the hotel.

Is La Residencia Too Romantic for Families?

No, but it is important to understand what you’re booking.

La Residencia is family friendly, but it doesn’t feel like a family resort. Because it’s way more boutique.

You can bring your kids here and still have the quiet, romantic experience that makes La Residencia so appealing. Children are welcome, but they aren’t the focus of the property.

For us, the biggest difference was that La Residencia required a little more planning with young kids. There isn’t a beach right outside the hotel, and you’re more likely to leave the property to explore Deià or the surrounding area.

We didn’t do as much exploring around Mallorca with our toddler and baby because getting everyone in and out of car seats wasn’t something we wanted to do every day. With older children, though, I could see La Residencia being an excellent base for exploring this part of the island together.

So, Which Is Better for Families?

If you’re traveling with a baby or toddler and want the easiest luxury vacation, Four Seasons has a real advantage. The beach, pools, kids programming, dining and resort setup make it incredibly easy to stay on property.

If your kids are older and you want to explore Mallorca together, La Residencia becomes a little bit more compelling IMO! The mountains, village, hiking, tennis, cooking experiences and nearby towns give you much more to do beyond the hotel.

For us, with a toddler and baby, Four Seasons was the easier family vacation. La Residencia was the more immersive Mallorca experience.

3. The Rooms at FS Mallorca and La Residencia

The rooms are another area where these two hotels feel pretty different.

Four Seasons Mallorca Rooms

Four Seasons Mallorca’s rooms are fresh, contemporary and very polished. The hotel was essentially rebuilt while retaining the original Formentor footprint, so the rooms have a much more modern feel than La Residencia.

Most rooms have either sea or pine forest views, with balconies or terraces. There are also larger suites and family friendly configurations that are useful when traveling with kids.

We stayed in a suite with our toddler and baby, and having the extra space made a big difference. There was plenty of room for the crib, stroller and all of our baby gear without feeling cramped.

One thing I would pay attention to when booking is the exact room location and view. Not every room marketed with a sea view will have the same dramatic, unobstructed view you see in the hotel’s photos. Some of the plunge pool rooms sit lower on the property and have more vegetation around them.

If the view is important to you, I would work with your advisor to choose the room category carefully.

La Residencia Rooms

La Residencia is a completely different aesthetic.

The rooms are spread across several buildings and have a traditional Mallorcan style, with stone, wood, antiques and plenty of character. Rather than feeling newly built, they feel connected to the history and setting of the property.

That won’t appeal to everyone and this is where you’ll see some travelers describe the rooms as “dated.”

Are La Residencia’s Rooms Dated?

I think this comes down to what you mean by dated.

If you prefer a brand new luxury hotel with contemporary finishes, Four Seasons will likely be more your style.

If you like old world character, traditional design and a room that feels like it belongs in Deià, La Residencia’s rooms are part of the charm.

Room categories also vary quite a bit, so I would pay attention to the specific building, room and view rather than judging the entire hotel based on one room category.

La Residencia is also planning renovations, so this is one area that may change over the next few years.

Which Rooms Would I Choose?

For modern design, newer finishes, ocean views and family friendly space, I would look at Four Seasons.

For character, traditional Mallorcan design and a stronger sense of place, you will appreciate Belmond La Residencia.

With young kids, I personally appreciated the extra space and modern setup at Four Seasons. But, that doesn’t mean La Residencia was bad or anything. For a couples trip, though, I could see the charm of a beautiful La Residencia suite in the mountains being a big part of the experience.

Read my full La Residencia hotel review if you’d like to see more of the rooms!

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4. Views & Sense of Place

This is one of the biggest differences between the two hotels, and honestly, La Residencia wins me over here.

La Residencia

La Residencia has a strong sense of place and a feeling that is very specific to Mallorca.

The historic buildings, traditional Mallorcan interiors, olive trees, local art and mountain setting all feel connected to Deià. You aren’t just staying at a luxury hotel. You’re surrounded by the village, the countryside and the history of the island.

The views are part of that too. Instead of the ocean, you’re looking out over olive groves, mountains, the village and the Tramuntana landscape.

There is a feeling here that is hard to recreate or explain until you experience it for yourself!

Four Seasons Mallorca

Four Seasons is obviously in a beautiful setting, with Formentor Beach, the Mediterranean, pine trees and mountains surrounding the property.

The hotel was also substantially rebuilt while keeping the original Formentor footprint, which maintains some connection to the property’s history.

But compared to La Residencia, the hotel itself is much more contemporary and polished. It could almost be a beautiful Four Seasons anywhere in the world.

For me, that’s the biggest difference.

Four Seasons has the beautiful Mallorca setting. La Residencia has the feeling of Mallorca culture.

5. Beach & Pools at FS Mallorca and La Residencia

If having a beach at your hotel is important to you, this is probably the easiest difference between the two.

Four Seasons Mallorca

Four Seasons sits directly on Formentor Beach, so you can walk from the hotel to the sand in just a few minutes. The beach itself is public, but Four Seasons has its own loungers and service area for hotel guests.

The water is clear, shallow and sandy, which made it especially easy with our kids. We could take them down for a swim without needing to plan a separate beach day.

There is also a golf cart available to take you between different areas of the resort, which can be helpful with little kids.

One thing to know is that beach service is more limited than what you might expect at a traditional private beach resort since this is a public beach. But the convenience of having it right outside the hotel was a huge plus for us.

At the hotel, you’ll find both a family pool and adults only pool, giving you options depending on how you want to spend the afternoon.

Belmond La Residencia

La Residencia does not have a beach at the hotel.

The closest option is Cala Deià, a beautiful rocky cove that’s well worth visiting. The hotel offers transportation to the cala, making it much easier than figuring it out yourself with kids.

For pool time, La Residencia has a family pool and an adults only pool, plus an indoor pool at the spa. There are plenty of loungers and pool service, so you can easily spend a relaxing afternoon at the hotel.

The experience is just very different from Four Seasons. At La Residencia, the pool is the main event. At Four Seasons, you have both the pool and the beach right outside your door.

If having a beach at your hotel matters, Four Seasons is the clear choice. If you’re happy spending your pool days at the hotel and exploring the coast separately, La Residencia still gives you a beautiful setting for both.

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6. Dining at La Residencia and Four Seasons Mallorca

Both hotels have very good food, but the dining experience is a little different at each.

Four Seasons Mallorca

We really enjoyed the food at Four Seasons. There are several restaurants to choose from, and Shima, the Japanese restaurant, was a favorite for us.

During our three nights, we were able to try pretty much everything we wanted to try. That was great for a shorter stay, but it also made me wonder if I would get a little bored with the dining options if we stayed for a full week.

For a three or four night stay, though, I don’t think that is much of an issue. We were happy eating at the hotel and liked having good options without needing to get everyone in the car for dinner.

If you want to know more about all of the restaurants, I share more in my full Four Seasons Mallorca Hotel Review.

La Residencia

La Residencia also has several restaurants (3), including the famous El Olivo, and we managed to try all of them during our two night stay.

El Olivo is a special occasion type of dinner though and it is very expensive. I personally wouldn’t want to eat there twice during a longer stay. We loved Tramuntana Grill and Cafe Miro for more casual meals.

The nice thing about La Residencia is that you’re not limited to the hotel. Deià has restaurants within walking distance, and Valldemossa is also close by, so you have plenty of options if you’re staying for several nights.

Which Hotel Is Better for Dining?

For a shorter stay, I think both hotels have enough variety to keep things interesting. Four Seasons makes it especially easy to stay on property and have a good meal without thinking too much about logistics.

For a longer stay, Belmond La Residencia has the advantage of being in a village with other restaurants nearby. You’re less likely to feel like you are eating at the same few places over and over.

If you love trying different restaurants while traveling, I’d factor that into how long you stay at each hotel!

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7. Things to Do at Four Seasons Mallorca and La Residencia

Both hotels have more activities than you could possibly fit into one stay. The difference is what you can do.

At Four Seasons Mallorca

Most activities center around the resort and the water. You have the beach, pools, kids club, tennis, spa, gym, water activities and daily programming.

We also did a boat day that left right from the hotel pier, which was my favorite day of the trip. Seeing the Mallorca coastline from the water was incredible, and the fact that we could walk straight from the hotel to the boat made it so easy.

At La Residencia

La Residencia is better for activities that get you out into Mallorca. Think hiking, olive groves, tennis, cooking, art, Cala Deià and exploring nearby villages.

You can walk into Deià, visit Valldemossa or Sóller, hike in the mountains or take the shuttle to Cala Deià. Boat trips can also be arranged here.

Four Seasons is more about enjoying the resort. La Residencia is more about experiencing the destination. Both have plenty to keep you busy without ever needing to leave.

8. Spa & Wellness

Both hotels have well equipped spas, but they fit into the overall experience of each property differently. And to be clear, I didn’t visit either spa during my trip (because the littles kept me too busy) which I do regret. My husband did use both hotel gyms though.

Four Seasons Mallorca

The Four Seasons spa feels like a full resort spa, with treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, cold plunge, ice shower, vitality pool, heated loungers and an outdoor relaxation area which looked so lovely! The gym is also well equipped.

If spa and wellness facilities are an important part of your hotel stay, Four Seasons has a lot to offer.

La Residencia

La Residencia’s spa feels more connected to the quiet countryside setting. There is an indoor pool, cold plunge, jacuzzi, treatments and wellness activities.

I did not use the spa during our stay, so I can’t give a firsthand comparison of the treatments or facilities.

For a dedicated resort spa experience, Four Seasons has more extensive facilities, but that doesn’t always mean better!

9. Service at La Residencia and Four Seasons

Service is another area where the hotels feel noticeably different.

Four Seasons Mallorca

Four Seasons has the polished, highly choreographed service you would expect from the brand. From arrival and check in to the pool, restaurants and housekeeping, everything felt organized and proactive.

With kids, I especially appreciated how quickly things were handled when we needed something. Both hotels also offered turndown service.

La Residencia

La Residencia felt more relaxed and personal. Dining was noticeably less formal from a service standpoint, and the pace around the pool was slower than at Four Seasons.

That isn’t necessarily a negative. It just felt more European and less structured overall.

One thing that really stood out was the concierge service before we even arrived. They helped us prepare for our departure and asked what time we wanted our rental car brought around. That was a small detail, but it made a huge difference since we had a 5am departure with two little kids.

Four Seasons feels polished and proactive. La Residencia feels relaxed, personal and more European. Both were attentive, just in their own ways!

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11. Privacy & Atmosphere at Four Seasons Mallorca vs La Residencia

Both hotels feel private, but again in very different ways so let me explain what I mean.

Four Seasons Mallorca

Four Seasons feels private mostly because of its remote location and expansive grounds. With only 110 rooms, the resort never felt crowded during our stay (even though they said they were fully committed).

The pools in particular felt very private, even though the beach was a different story. Formentor Beach is public and was busy, although the Four Seasons beach area itself is reserved for hotel guests only. People can still walk along the beach, so I would not expect complete privacy there. I was surprised by this and how busy it was. It looked like there was a ferry running to the beach on the opposite end.

There are also more families at Four Seasons, especially during school holidays, and the overall property feels like a larger resort. But as you can tell in my photos, the pools never seemed overly crowded and were often sort of empty.

One room category I would think twice about if privacy is important: the garden plunge pool rooms. Some can be seen from higher areas of the property, including from other balconies (like ours). I would choose a different category if having a private pool is important to you.

La Residencia

La Residencia is tucked into Deià, but the property itself is spread across a large area, with rooms and buildings throughout the grounds.

It feels more intimate than Four Seasons, even though there is plenty of space. There are also more couples, and while families are absolutely welcome, it does not have the same resort feel.

The village is right outside the hotel, so you are not as isolated as you are at Four Seasons. But once you’re on the property, it feels very quiet and private. Though, many outside guests do come to the restaurants.

If you want privacy at La Residencia, I would book an upgraded room type with a plunge pool for more privacy from the main pool, which is smaller and was often more full.

Four Seasons feels more private because it is remote and spread out. La Residencia feels more private because it is tucked into the landscape and has a quieter, more intimate atmosphere.

Which Is Best for Couples? La Residencia or Four Seasons Mallorca?

Both Four Seasons Mallorca and La Residencia would be beautiful for a couples trip. I just think they create very different vacations.

Four Seasons Mallorca for Couples

Four Seasons is a great choice if you want a luxury beach vacation with everything at the hotel.

You can spend the day at the beach or adults only pool, book a spa treatment, have a long lunch, take a boat out from the hotel pier and have dinner without needing to go anywhere.

It feels polished and easy. If you want to check into your hotel and settle in for a few days, Four Seasons makes that very easy.

La Residencia for Couples

For a couples trip, I think La Residencia has more romance and a stronger sense of place.

You have the mountains, olive groves, beautiful historic buildings and Deià right outside your door. You can walk into the village for dinner, spend the day exploring the Tramuntana or simply sit by the pool and enjoy the property.

It feels quieter, more intimate and more distinctly Mallorcan. Honestly, it feels magical and really special!

For a beach focused couples trip, I’d look at Four Seasons. For a romantic trip where the setting, food, culture and feeling of Mallorca are a big part of the experience, I’d look at La Residencia.

How Many Nights Should You Stay?

I don’t think either hotel requires a full week. In fact, I think three to four nights is a really good amount of time for either one, especially if you’re also visiting other parts of Mallorca.

Four Seasons Mallorca

I would stay 3 to 4 nights, maybe 5 at Four Seasons. We personally did stay 3 nights and I could have done one more. But over 4 (and definitely over 5) felt like a lot to me.

That gives you enough time to enjoy the beach, pools, restaurants, spa, resort activities and a boat day without feeling like you have to repeat the same things.

For a full week, I might start wanting more variety outside the resort, but that is just me!

La Residencia

I would stay 3 to 5 nights at La Residencia, especially if you want to explore other areas. For us, 2 nights was great because we really just wanted to enjoy the hotel and Deia. If you want to explore, that’s where I think 3+ nights would work for a longer Mallorca itinerary.

We stayed two nights and managed to experience all of the hotel’s restaurants and still left wanting another day. With a few extra nights, you could slow down, explore Deià, hike, visit Valldemossa, Palma, or Sóller and spend more time enjoying the property.

If You Want to Stay at Both

If you’re debating splitting your stay, I actually think 3 or 4 nights at Four Seasons and 3 or 4 nights at La Residencia would work really well. I am SO glad we split our trip so we could experience two very different sides to Mallorca! I would do it the same way again.

The experiences are different enough that it doesn’t feel redundant. You get the beach and resort experience at Four Seasons, then the mountains, village and sense of place at La Residencia. They really paired together so nicely!

For most trips, I’d personally rather split 6 or 7 nights between the two than spend the entire week at either one.

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Which Would I Choose With a Toddler and Baby?

This is probably the question I can answer best because we actually stayed at both hotels with our 2 year old toddler and 7 month old baby.

I would absolutely stay at both again, but for this particular stage of life, Four Seasons was easier and probably more fun for our toddler.

A baby can pretty much go anywhere and both hotels were great for him. A toddler is busy!

Having the beach right at the hotel was such a huge plus. We could take our toddler down to the water, let her play in the sand, swim and then head back to the room for naps easily without having a whole outing.

The pool was also much better for her at Four Seasons. There was a shallow area where she could play more independently. La Residencia’s pool was perfectly fine, but we were mostly holding her rather than letting her splash and play on her own.

I also think Four Seasons will be even more fun for her as she gets older. Once she’s old enough for the kids club, I think it would be a great place for her to spend some time and give us a break from the sun. The Four Seasons kids club is larger and more substantial than the one at La Residencia.

That said, La Residencia’s kids club is small but has plenty of toys, and both hotels allow younger children to use the kids club when a parent or sitter is with them, which I really liked.

At La Residencia, we mostly chose to enjoy the hotel rather than drive around to explore. With a toddler and baby, we simply didn’t want to spend our days getting everyone in and out of car seats.

But if you have older kids and actually want to explore Mallorca, La Residencia makes a lot of sense. It’s much closer to Deià, Valldemossa, Sóller and other places you may want to visit.

For us, Four Seasons was probably more fun for our toddler. La Residencia gave us a different experience of Mallorca and I would happily return there with our kids as they get older.

If I were booking this trip again with a toddler and baby, I’d choose to do both again. It was a fantastic trip! But, if you are only pick one, Four Seasons is probably better for toddlers.

FAQ

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What I Wish I Knew Before Booking

After staying at both hotels, there are a few things I think are worth knowing before you book.

Things to Know Before Booking Four Seasons Mallorca

1. It is genuinely remote.
You’re going to Formentor for the setting and the resort. Getting around Mallorca takes more planning.

2. The beach is public.
Four Seasons has its own guest beach area and loungers, but Formentor Beach itself is public and can get busy.

3. Don’t assume every room has an unobstructed ocean view.
Room location matters. Some rooms have more limited views or vegetation, so I would pay attention to the exact category you book and what floor they are on.

4. You can easily spend most of your stay at the resort.
Between the beach, pools, restaurants, spa, activities and boat trips, there is very little reason to leave.

5. It is especially easy with young kids.
The beach, shallow pool area, kids club and overall resort setup made this one of the easiest luxury stays we’ve done with our little ones.

Things to Know Before Booking La Residencia

1. This is not a beach resort.
There is no beach at the hotel. Cala Deià is nearby, but the experience is very different from staying directly on Formentor Beach.

2. Room categories matter.
The property is spread across multiple buildings, and rooms vary in size, style and views. I would look closely at the specific room and setup.

3. The property is spread across the hillside.
There is plenty of walking and some hills between different areas of the hotel. There are elevators, but I could see it being harder if you have mobility challenges.

4. Deià gets busy during the day.
The village can be crowded with day trippers, even though La Residencia itself feels quiet and peaceful.

5. The traditional rooms won’t appeal to everyone.
If you want a sleek, contemporary luxury hotel, Four Seasons will feel much more modern. La Residencia is all about character and traditional Mallorcan design which I personally adore!

6. It makes more sense if you want to explore Mallorca.
Being in Deià puts you much closer to hiking, villages, restaurants and other parts of the Tramuntana than you are at Four Seasons.

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