Hotel Accommodations
SBESC 2019 organization set special deals with hotels and B&B in Ponta Negra beach, the suggested location for stays during the conference. Follows the options:
Praiamar Natal Hotel & Convention
Rua Francisco Gurgel, 33, Ponta Negra, Natal
+55 84 3219-2230 GPS Coordinates: -5.871496, -35.178161
7.5 km away from the conference venue, approx. 14 minutes by car, and 42 minutes by public bus (94 meters away from Ponta Negra beach)
| Dates | Category | SGL (per night) | DBL (per night) | TPL (per night) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-22 November | STANDARD | R$ 225.00 | R$ 260.00 | R$ 290.00 |
| 19-22 November | DELUXE | R$ 260.00 | R$ 299.00 | R$ 335.00 |
- STANDARD: TV, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi internet, minibar, telephone, safe, hairdryer and internal view.
- DELUXE: Same STANDARD items, plus the Atlantic ocean sea view.
Click here for the hotel reservation form
Praiamar Express Natal
Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 4014, Ponta Negra, Natal
+55 84 3311-0000 GPS Coordinates: -5.872671, -35.180611
8.4 km away from the conference venue, approx. 14 minutes by car, and 36 minutes by public bus (369 meters away from Ponta Negra beach)
| Dates | Category | SGL (per night) | DBL (per night) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-22 November | STANDARD | R$ 150.00 | R$ 189.00 |
- Apartment Configuration:
- SGL – apartament with 1 King size bed or apartment with 2 double beds.
- DBL – apartament with 1 King size bed or apartment with 2 double beds.
Click here for the hotel reservation form
Holiday Inn Natal - http://holidayinn.com/natalbrasil
Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1906
GPS Coordinates: -5.825377, -35.209960
1.7 km away from the conference venue, approx. 20 minutes of walking
For SBESC and LADC special rates reservation at Holiday Inn Natal, please CLICK HERE, and indicate Rate Access/Corporate Code LADC2019.
| Dates | Category | SGL (per night) | DBL (per night) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-22 November | STANDARD | R$ 189.00 | R$ 227.00 |
Option 1: One King Bed Apartment configuration
- Free Wi-Fi and free local phone calls will always keep you connected in this comfortable, modern apartment.
- A well-lit work desk with office chair will help you stay productive.
- It features a comfortable king size bed, soft or firm pillow options, minibar, digital laptop safe and LED TV with over 70 channels.
Option 2: two Double Beds Apartment configuration (extra bed not allowed)
- Free Wi-Fi and free local telephone calls will always keep you connected in this comfortable, modern apartment.
- A well-lit work desk with office chair will help you stay productive.
- It features two comfortable double beds, soft or firm pillow options, minibar, digital laptop safe and LED TV with over 70 channels.
Pousada Amaina Natal - http://www.pousadaamainanatal.com.br
Rua Pedro Fonseca Filho, 2030
+55 84 98174-0475 / 84 3219-2655GPS Coordinates: -5.878201, -35.175287
7.9 km away from the conference venue, approx. 15 minutes by car (53 min by public transportaiton)
For SBESC special rate reservation at Pousada Amaina Natal, please send email to contato at pousadaamainanatal.com.br, and indicate Code SBESC2019. You can also use WhatsApp for further contact.
| Dates | SGL (per night) | DBL (per night) | Family (per night) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17-28 November | R$ 90.00 (1 guest) - up to 2 guests (no extra fee) - 1 twin bed |
R$ 90.00 (2 guests) - 1 twin bed 3rd guest allowed (maximum): - additional single bed required need to ask when booking - extra fee of R$ 40.00 total: R$ 130.00 (3 guests) |
R$ 90.00 (2 guests) - maximum of 4 guetss - additional twin bed required need to ask when booking - each guest for an extra fee of R$ 40.00 total: R$ 170.00 (4 guests) |
Single: One Twin Bed Apartment (30m2) configuration
- Free Wi-Fi access, ar conditioning, minibar, TV, continental breakfest.
- Double: One Twin Apartment (30m2) configuration
- Free Wi-Fi access, ar conditioning, minibar, TV, continental breakfest.
- one extra single Bed is allowed
Family: Two twin beds Apartment (30m2) configuration
- Free Wi-Fi access, ar conditioning, minibar, TV, continental breakfest.
Further information please contact or access website.
Travel
The Natal City
Natal, the City of the Sun and the capital city of the Rio Grande do Norte state. Featuring an area of 169 km2 and 712,317 of population, Natal is a significant tourist destination in Brazil. Natal is growing more, and becoming popular among Brazilian and international tourists by it6s blessed Nature. Natal is a safe capital city in Brazil, and one of the Brazilian cities nearest Europe and North America.
People who are born in Natal are called natalenses; those who are born in the state of Rio Grande do Norte are called potiguares, which in the indian tupi language means “people who eat shrimps”. Statistics on Natal: the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) makes public the results of their periodic census; visit the IBGE website (some sections have an English version). IBGE also breaks out information by cities (in Portuguese only).
History: take a look at a brief History of Natal. If you can read Portuguese, take a look at this comprehensive work about the History of Rio Grande do Norte.
Natal is becoming a major destination for Brazilian tourists
Natal has always been an island of tranquility in Brazil; the sunny beaches always attracted tourists from all around the country. However, Natal used to have a problem: poor infra-structure; those who, like me, came here for the first time about 15 years ago, had to cope with the lack of hotels and restaurants, absolute absence of information, the innefective transportation system, etc.
Years of good management and the perception that tourism was its greatest potential have drastically changed Natal: there are many more hotels, restaurants and every kind of tourism related business; transportation and communication systems are much better; more and more natalenses know how important the tourists are for the economy, and this reflects on the way (which was already warm) that they treat visitants.
Surveys start to show that the tourists are already noticing the changes in Natal. Embratur is the federal Brazilian agency in charge of promoting tourism in Brazil, both domestic and international; the website is http://www.embratur.gov.br. Among several other studies of several kinds, Embratur periodically conduts surveys among tourists to picture the Brazilian tourism market; the last such survey was in 2,001.
City Tour
Driving by the coast way, we’ll pass by the 2nd most important green urban park of this country, the most significant hotel of the city, Mother Luíza lighthouse, Areia Preta, Artistas, Meio and fortress beaches. We will also visit the fortress built by the Portuguese and the Dutch soldiers. From the fortress, we have a view of the old hydroplanes base made by the Americans during the second world war, which is nowadays a museum of Getúlio Vargas and Franklin Rosevelt. Further by the old town “Ribeira.” On our way, we´ll see the Alberto Maranhão Theater, the art captaincy, André de Albuquerque Square, Câmara Cascudo Museum, the Metropolitan Cathedral and The Three Power Square. Then we reach the center of the city. Our next stop will be at the “Centro de Turismo” a handicraft center located in an old prison built by the Portuguese during the colonization of Natal. After all this we continue to the modern side of Natal, passing by Petrópolis, Tirol and Lagoa Nova Neighborhood ´till we get to the football stadium “Machadão.” On the way back to Ponta Negra we will visit the gemstones lapidary which is a significant activity for the economy of Rio Grande do Norte and Brazil.
How to Reach Natal
Most travelers will arrive by the Governador Aluízio Alves International Airport, located in São Gonçalo dos Amarantes, greater Natal.
Concerning International flights, only TAP flies directly from Lisbon to Natal several times a week. The journey from other international cities to Natal must consider firstly reaching the most important Brazilian capitals, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia. From these Brazilian cities, there are numerous direct flights (LATAM Airlines, GOL Linhas Aéreas, and Azul Airlines) daily to Natal.
Public Transportation
Natal does not have a Metro (underground). Tourists usually rent cars, take buses or get taxis for transportation. Both Uber and 99POP companies, an alternative to traditional taxi cabs, operate in the whole Natal. For transportation between airport and hotel/conference venue, you can use taxi service (rate of R$ 80-120,00) and Uber/99POP (rate of R$ 70-100,00), taking around 45 minutes to reach Ponta Negra. There are many airport-to-Natal shuttle service (rates of R$ 36,00), which tourism agency staff offer in the lobby of the airport (after picking up the bags). Natal shuttle is not a direct service, and they take around 1h30 by stopping to deliver every passenger. Hotels usually provide transport booking service to the airport, please confirm in the reception.
Taxis
There are 1100 taxis with 24h service in Natal. An estimated taxi fare calculation can be made here.
Taxi companies phone list:
Super Taxi Natal: +55 84 3606-0096
Cooptax-Cooperativa dos Proprietários de Táxis de Natal: +55 84 3205-4455 / 3605-1327
Rádio Táxi Relâmpago: +55 84 3223-5444
Natal Táxi: +55 84 3213-6800
Cidade Táxi-24 H: +55 84 3223-6488
Health Requirements
Except for vaccination certificates for persons coming from areas where yellow fever is endemic, at present, there are no special health requirements.
Medical Care
Clinics and hospitals provide 24 hrs emergency service. The national service mobile emergency phone number is 192.
Tips
Tipping is optional in Brazil. However, Bars and restaurants usually charge a 10% service fee directly on the bill.
Smoking
The Brazilian law, following Regulations in force in the majority of European Countries and the USA, does not allow smoking in any public transportation or any closed public areas. (Some restaurants, bars, and disco clubs may have a designated smoking area).
Suggestions for Dinners
NAU Frutos do Mar Natal
Av. Odilon Gomes de Lima, 1772 - Cidade Jardim, Natal - RN, 59078-400
http://site.naufrutosdomar.com.br
Restaurante Tábua de Carne
Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire, 2396 - Capim Macio, Natal - RN, 59090-000
http://tabuadecarne.com.br/
Camarões Potiguar
R. Pedro Fonseca Filho, 8887 - Ponta Negra, Natal - RN, 59090-000
http://www.camaroes.com.br/
Restaurante Mangai
R. Des. João Vicente da Costa, 8861 - Ponta Negra, Natal - RN, 59090-060
http://mangai.com.br/
Picanha & Cia
R. Erivan França, 3176 - Vila de Ponta Negra, Natal - RN, 59090-100
Pérola Restaurante
R. Erivan França, 20 - Ponta Negra, Natal/RN, 59090-100
Useful Tourist Information
Oficial Language
The oficial languague is Portuguese.
Currency
In Brazil, the currency is Real. Access this link for currency conversions.
Exchange
Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. Travellers’ cheques and currency can be changed at exchange bureau (in the International airport and nearby the conference venue, access here PT-BR only to find out an exchange bureau in Natal), and possibly at hotel receptions (it depends on Hotel’s local policies).
Climate
The average maximum daily temperature and average minimum temperature in the Natal area in October are 32ºC (high) and 22ºC (low). The weather in Natal is not an issue by its location in the Atlantic ocean coast, therefore always windy which alleviates the heat.
Time Zone
The time zone in Natal is GMT-3.
Electric Current
Natal’s electric supply is 220 volts/60 Hz, supporting the pin socket type J. Take into account that Brazilian standard pin socket type J is only used in Brazil, where the plugs have three round pins and sockets three holes of 4 mm (10 amps, for general electric / electronic devices) or 4.8 mm (20 amps, used for electric showers).
