Review: the Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza (Part 2)

This is part two of my review of the Gran Hotel Montesol in Ibiza.  It has recently reopened after a massive refurbishment as part of Hilton’s Curio Collection of luxury boutique hotels.

In part one of my review (click here) of the Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza I wrote about the different room categories.

Here is part two where I focus on the public spaces including restaurant and art work.

Ground floor

The ground floor is the heart of the Gran Hotel Montesol.  The bright and inviting entrance area has various sitting areas and is decorated with flowers as well as artworks.

Cafe Montesol

The Cafe Montesol is located right after the entrance area and is a coffee shop, restaurant and bar serving mediterranean food and various cocktails.

Here is a picture of the bar.

When I arrived there were quite a few people working on their laptops giving more the impression of a local coffee shop than a hotel bar.

Breakfast

Unlike most hotels I’ve stayed in there was no buffet.  With just 33 rooms it prefers to offer an a la carte menu with a wide variety of fresh juices and mediterranean breakfast dishes. Unfortunately the dish I ordered was a bit too salty for me but don’t let that put you off!

Throughout the hotel you can find lots of different art works including photographs by Toni Riera with images of ‘Hippy Ibiza’.

Even the restrooms are rather arty with these contemporary sinks.

The  hotel doesn’t have a gym, which some people could see as a disadvantage.  The hotel does have an arrangement with a nearby gym which hotel guests can use free of charge, although you may prefer to go for a jog around the old town.

There are rumours of a possible conversion of the rooftop into a terrace, although this is not set in stone yet.

Conclusion

The Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is a lovely stylish hotel in a great part of the island. There are lots of shops nearby and you can walk up into the  heart of the old town where you get a beautiful view over the island and the sea. With the harbour right outside the hotel you can also easily take a ferry to Formentera and explore this smaller island with its gorgeous beaches.

The Cafe Montesol serves a great breakfast and mediterranean food throughout the day and has a nice coffee shop/brasserie atmosphere.

With only 33 rooms the Gran Hotel Montesol is quite a small hotel which gives it a uniquely personal flair and as the Cafe Montesol is popular with locals you don’t get the impression of being in an overly touristy area. The lack of a gym could be an issue for some but then again there is a free shuttle to a nearby gym that hotel guests can use.

The Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is probably not the best choice if you are a twenty-something looking for a party get-away in Ibiza or if you have young children – the hotel is happy to accept kids but there is nothing specifically for them.  It IS a great hotel for couples looking for a quiet and peaceful hotel as a base whilst having the option of going to the nearby clubs, shops or museums.

If you are looking to redeem points, the Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection of luxury independent hotels.  This is a group of properties who have formed a marketing alliance with Hilton which allows you to book your stays via the Hilton website – and earn Hilton HHonors points – as well as redeeming.

A free night here is priced at the top end of the scale, costing 95,000 points per night in summer.  The cash price, however, reaches €600 per night in August.  Our standard value for a Hilton point is 0.33p.  At peak dates, you would be getting 0.5p per point which makes it one of the better value Hilton HHonors redemptions.

Outside peak season, cash rates are more reasonable (€270 per night in May) and a full redemption at 95,000 points looks bad value.  ‘Cash and Points’ is available outside high summer, however, and is better value.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card.  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points.