Esmeralda Praia Hotel

The room issue alone was awful. I asked to move rooms and was told to wait a day. While I was waiting, they assigned my room to someone else and gave them keys while our belongings were still inside, without telling us first. It took a lot of hassle to get another room. That's the service at this supposed 4-star hotel, and it's why I gave it the lowest rating. The place feels dated and far from its best, maybe 10 years ago. It needs serious renovation, and with how tightly they're running things, I doubt that will happen soon. They sell an image from the past that disappears as soon as you walk in. Even the lobby air conditioning wasn't on. In the 32ºC / 90ºF summer heat of northeast Brazil, it was as hot as it could be. If you value your money and peace of mind, don't come here. The beach they advertise isn't really there anymore either. The sea has taken back most of Ponta Negra beach, so at high tide there's no beach left. A few months ago, local authorities started beach landing as their absurd solution. It's sad, because it used to be a wonderful beach for swimming. Now the sea is treacherous and the sea floor is full of stones. We had to drive 20 minutes north to find a good beach. If I have to drive to the beach, what's the point of staying in a seaside hotel? If you want quiet, be careful: the quiet rooms are at the back. The more expensive rooms with direct sea views are at the mercy of very loud music and entertainment from the pool area. Terrible experience. I'm not coming back and would tell everyone to avoid this hotel.

The hotel is right in front of the beach, with plenty for kids to do, delicious food for everyone, and a clean, huge pool. It's got everything you need for a great vacation. I only suggest that management improve the Wi-Fi, which sometimes didn't work properly, and pay closer attention to replacing the bathroom amenities.

This seems much more suited to families than people in their 20s, with lots of activities and live music at night. The location is okay, about a 10-minute drive from Praia dos Artistas, where there's a market with handicrafts, cachaça, and other souvenirs. The rooms were very clean and had air conditioning. The toilets have bidet hoses, which is unusual but handy. Two drawbacks in our room: the mattress wasn't very comfortable, and the smart TV wouldn't connect to the internet properly, so we couldn't watch Netflix, YouTube, and similar services.

The food and the thoughtful Easter surprise really stood out during our stay at Esmeralda. My family and I spent a week and a few extra days there a couple of months ago on the all-inclusive plan, and we had a great time. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner came with a very wide menu of meals and dishes, with extra food and snacks available at a booth beside the pool. The tea-time food was good enough to satisfy us. On Easter, the hotel gave guests Easter eggs, which was unexpected and a lovely touch. The staff were attentive whenever we had questions, and the waiters and waitresses were warm and made us feel at home. The hotel is only a few meters from the coast, and from the upper rooms you can see the picturesque scenery and lovely beach. I'd never had a room with a sea view before, so I was impressed. Esmeralda Praia Hotel is one of the best places I've stayed while abroad. I know the all-inclusive plan probably shaped my impression, but I think guests using other plans would be satisfied too. It seems to cover many, maybe all, of different guests' needs. I flew home with sweet memories of the hotel and the city, including its striking architecture, decoration, and surroundings. I'd return whenever I travel to Natal again.