Hotel Imira Plaza

The Imirá Plaza is located at the heart of Vía Costeira, one of the main resort areas in Natal. It stands directly on the seafront, some 12 mi from Natal airport and about 3 mi from the city centre.

The hotel has a tennis court with views of the sea.

This three-storey building with a white façade does not look out of place in the landscape around Vía Costeira. The hotel was opened in 1987 and renovated in 2009. Its hall has a marble floor and a wooden ceiling, and is furnished with 1970's style white, yellow and brown leather armchairs. The decor also includes colourful and abstract paintings, little statues made locally and a chest of drawers adorned with porcelain vases. Two telephones are provided for clients to use next to the reception counter. There is also a shop selling craft objects, paintings and beach products (sun cream, etc.), and a travel agency offering various kinds of excursions and buggy hire. Next to the shop, beneath a wooden cross, a large teapot and cups are provided for guests to help themselves at any time of the day. Following a long, wooden walkway, you reach a bar with large, white leather armchairs, big picture windows, a statue of a dancer, and a three-dimensional painting featuring a violin. This space is extremely bright, with light pouring in through its many windows all day long.

Outside, you find yourself in the swimming pool area. The grass out here looks a bit sorry for itself, and could do with a bit more looking after. A number of plastic chairs and deckchairs are set around the swimming pools. In addition to the volleyball net, there is a play area and a mini football table for children to amuse themselves. Next to the swimming pool is a little structure with a wooden roof. Inside, as well as the gym equipped with three exercise machines, there is a hairdresser's, a massage room with three (rather hard) beds, a cosmetic treatment room and a sauna.

Getting to the guest rooms in the Imira Plaza entails a bit of a walk. The hotel has 166 guest rooms spread over three floors, so you may have to walk down little corridors and cross various parts of the hotel before getting to your own door. This is something worth knowing before you arrive! All the standard rooms provide quadruple accommodation, and there are also 49 superior rooms. In terms of the decor, the rooms are all very simple. Their floors are lined with light-coloured marble, and there is a little plastic table and chairs, a wardrobe combining a rustic look with 1970's style, and a television and mini-bar. The yellow walls adorned with colourful pictures match the curtains, and the wooden headboard goes well with the little bedside tables, which are made of the same colour of wood. If you wish to use the safe, you will need to ask for the key at reception. The superior rooms have a balcony with a sea view, while the standard rooms have to make do with views over the car park. Apart from the hair-dryer and rather minimalist beauty set in the bathroom, you will find a noisy fan and a mirror from another era.

The restaurant at the Imira Plaza is actually split into two dining areas: one is an air-conditioned dining room, while the other is in the open air. All three daily meals are served here. In the morning, the breakfast buffet consists of fruits, cereals, yoghurts and fruit juices, and there is also a space where hot dishes like couscous, scrambled eggs and tapioca are served to order. With their marble flooring and big picture windows overlooking the sea, these two spaces have the advantage of being filled with plenty of natural light. For lunch and dinner, the buffets consist of six different types of salad and four different hot dishes (meat, Naples-style fillet steak, and prawns are a few of the options). The side dishes change each day.

The beach of Vía Costeira can be accessed directly from the hotel, reached via the garden, down a small set of steps. The Imira Plaza has its own deckchairs and parasols that you will need to ask for at the swimming pool bar. Depending on the tides and the time of year, the beach may only be accessible for six hours a day. It is a long stretch of fine sand, and the seawater is warm, although it is a bit on the narrow side and is rather exposed to the wind. Moreover, also depending on the season and the time of day, the sea tends to wash up various types of seaweed. You will also have to watch out for the tidal currents and find out the latest information before you go for a swim.