This was the first of two overnight stops on my RoadTrip Summer 2025, going north from Spain. Given that I was planning to cover around 2,200 km in 3 days and 2 night, I found myself scheduling my stopovers in two new city-regions.
My first stop was at the Hotel MontSant in Xàtiva, about 55 km south of Valencia. You do find this hotel mentioned as both MontSant and Mont-Sant.
My search criteria on Booking were 4-5 stars, +8 “score”, restaurant, separate shower, and secure parking (a key parameter).
Booking gave the 4-star hotel an 8.7 (Fabulous), based upon 1,208 reviews, whilst Tripadvisor considered it No.1 in the city, and gave it 4.3 (Very Good) based upon 302 reviews.
Wikipedia tells us that Xàtiva has a hot semi-arid climate, and this was certainly true, because on the last day of May 2025, temperatures touched 30°C.
Where is the hotel?
Firstly, it’s important to say that TomTom took me right to the front entrance. However the route taken looked to very convoluted. The hotel is a former Cistercian site set on a hill, and about 1 km from the ancient Torre del Sol and the Castell de Xàtiva. In fact, I passed some people evidently walking up to the castle.
I noticed later that the hotel recommended that when using a GPS device, use the address “Plaça de Trinquet” to have the easiest access route. On Google Maps this certainly makes a difference to the route taken through the town, but I can’t say which is better. In any case the route using TomTom was different from both those proposed by Google Maps.
I did not visit Xàtiva, but it is known for its imposing twin castle, rich Islamic and medieval heritage, and as the birthplace of the Borgia (Borja) family, the infamous and influential Italian Renaissance dynasty. It was also once one of the most important towns in the former Kingdom of Valencia, and is known for its early adoption of paper-making in Europe.
The castle itself is a dual fortification complex located on a ridge overlooking the city. It consists of both the Castillo Menor (a smaller, older Iberian and Roman fortification), and the Castillo Mayor (a larger, medieval fortress built during Islamic and Christian periods). I presume that it was originally built to control the Via Augusta, a major Roman road running from Cádiz to the Pyrenees.
From what I understand the castle is certain worth a visit.
The Mont-Sant is a boutique hotel (25 rooms), and I think the name “Holy Mountain” simply reflects its location as a former Cistercian convent. It’s worth mentioning that the site itself was home to both monks (in a monastery) and nuns (in a convent), but the hotel itself is in the convent.
My understanding is that the convent was founded by James II (1267-1327), and only transformed into a hotel in 1994.
One comment mentioned that the hotel was closer to the castle than the official castle car park!
Reception - first impressions
Before arriving I received an email telling me that:-
- The hotel had free outdoor parking, but they could not be reserved.
- That the breakfast service had to be booked in 30 minute periods, between 07:30 and 11:00.
First impressions are so important. In this case it was perhaps more surprise than anything else.
After parking near the entrance, the surprise was the abundance of vegetation. The hotel didn’t look “conventional”, and this was emphasised by the separate small reception building.
I understand that the lush gardens cover 16,000 square-metres of citrus trees, jasmine, etc. In any case it made for an unusual and attractive alternative.
The receptionist was very welcoming, but she informed me that my room was not ready yet (not surprising since I arrived early). She also informed me to leave the car in the parking because the restaurant was full that evening. I also learned about the breakfast arrangements, and was told the pool was already open. I was shown to a sitting room, until my room was ready. It did not taken long…
In fact, whilst the hotel only has 25 rooms, it is capable of welcoming wedding parties, etc. of up to 300 guests (thus the warning about keeping my parking space).
My room
The bathroom
Nothing to note. Good size, functional, perfect for what I needed and wanted for an overnight stay.
I very much liked the non-slip shower tray, but it did take quite sometime to get hot water.
One comment mentioned “crisp sheets”, whereas mine were fine, but not “crisp”. However, the bath towels were excellent.
Room service
The room-service menu was quite limited. And this is probably a good thing, given that I was unfortunately not that impressed. I asked for a hamburger, chips and beer, for a total of €32.75.
The meat was good, but it came with the usual tasteless cheese, some bacon, and a slice of tomato. It was then stuck between two pieces of bun, and served with very average chips. The hamburger was very dry and no condiments were provided. The bun was just that, a dry bun, with nothing, no mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc. Still the beer was nice and fresh.
Not a good publicity for the restaurant.
Several comments mentioned to book the restaurant in advance, since they often host large gatherings, and it can easily be full. For example, I had not booked the restaurant, and it was full that evening.
Breakfast
I reserved breakfast at 07:30, and I was the first to arrive. What was on offer was more than enough for me, since all I want is good coffee, freshly pressed orange juice, and some breads with orange marmalade and/or honey. Twenty minutes later I was on my way to my next stopover.
Conclusion
I found the hotel interesting, but the room service food disappointing. I also found the breakfast just a bit “self-service canteen”, but it was more than enough for my needs.
If I were to stop in the region again I would probably consider:-
Although these alternatives are likely to be more expensive.
