The Best Hotels to Book in Natal, Brazil

Backed by dramatic dunes and overlooking a scenic stretch of the Atlantic, this family-friendly hotel in Natal certainly scores highly on its setting. Besides the beach, there’s nothing within walking distance, but this self-contained resort gives little reason to stray far. Swish contemporary design creates that upscale holiday vibe, while a great kids club leaves you free to sip caipirinhas at the swim-up bar or find your bliss at the dreamy spa.

Overlooking the promenade that runs the length of the long sandy shore of Ponta Negra, this laid-back resort-style hotel has a prime beachfront position – and is close to most of the action. You get great views of the Morro do Careca sand dune from the rooftop pool, plus incredible sunsets. Apartment-style accommodation makes self-catering an option – though splash out for an upgrade if you want a decent view.

Manary is as close as Natal hotels get to a beach boutique hotel. Rooms are decorated in earthy colors, lent extra pizazz by yellow-and-white-striped wallpaper. Lambent bedside lighting adds coziness as night falls. Lacy hammocks hang in the balconies – clamber into yours at dawn to look out at daybreak over the Atlantic. Breakfast is served al fresco on a deck next to the pool, delivering the same sea views. The hotel has one of the best restaurants in Natal, with a menu based on ​​tapioca, pumpkin, shrimp and butter among the many Brazilian ingredients, as well as a bar serving icy caipirinhas all day.

The best thing about Natal Dunnas? Location, location, location. The finest stretch of Ponta Negra Beach – right under the Morro do Careca dune – is just beyond the lobby, as is the restaurant strip. The hotel has a decent pool with a sundeck, and super-helpful staff will be happy to organize tours as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing excursions. No wonder very few guests spend much time in their attractively compact rooms; with their nautical palette of whites and beiges, they look the part, decorated with photos of local scenes and pops of color in the form of scatter cushions.

This huge Natal hotel rises like a procession of concrete cliffs behind a long, almost-empty stretch of beach, 30 minutes on foot south of Ponta Negra. The resort does all it can to keep guests in its confines – with suites of restaurants, swimming pools and non-stop organized activities for all age groups. If you want to practice your Portuguese, you’re in luck – SERHS is usually packed with vacationing Brazilian families.

The rooms to book in this Natal hotel are the super deluxe suites. They’re appealingly decked out in swathes of surgically white tiles and furnished with taupe vinyl armchairs. The best bit? Some have balconies with wonderful beach and ocean views. The hotel has a large pool and sundeck right on the sand, and it’s in a good location. The restaurants and bars in Ponta Negra and the liveliest dance bars in Natal – be sure to check out Rastapé Casa de Forró – are an easy stroll away.

The best thing about the Hotel Marsol Beach Resort is the location; this Natal hotel enjoys its setting on a long stretch of beach, a 10-minute cab ride north of Ponta Negra, that it has to itself. Four pools, including two for young ones, and a restaurant overlook the sand, and there’s good paddleboarding to be had immediately out front. The hotel is aimed squarely at vacationing families here to relax on budget-friendly package trips. As a result, the rooms – simple whitewashed affairs – are often booked well in advance.

This Natal hotel in northern Ponta Negra breaks from the standard taupe tile and whitewash interior decor. Instead, rooms feature modern, warm woods, muted creams, grays and peppermints, polished hardwood furnishings and leather lounge chairs. Most have sea views through wall-high windows as well as from balconies. Also, the hotel has a spa, a palm-shaded patio with a bar and a scattering of sinuous swimming pools. Make sure you don’t oversleep – your stay here includes an excellent, substantial breakfast.