Che Lagarto Natal is in a good location for restaurants and weekend nightlife in Alto de Ponta…read moreNegra. The beach is a short and safe 10 minute walk, but careful crossing some streets! The locals, whether in buses or cars, are quite aggressive and inconsiderate considering the importance of tourism here.
The price is right, although some area hotels and pousadas offer cheaper private rooms closer to the beach. Most of the staff were knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The rooms look new, and have air-conditioners and flat screens with cable. Wi-Fi works well everywhere in the hostel. There is an outdoor shower to prevent sand from coming into the room after your buggy ride "com emoção."
An ex-Che Lagarto employee is available for cheap transfers in comfortable car, friendly and personable service. While the service was great upon our arrival, we had trouble on our departure. We were informed at the last minute that the driver canceled, but the reception confirmed another driver. This driver didn't show up, so the receptionist called a taxi and said he would accept the same flat rate. We left 15 minutes later than scheduled, and the taxi driver used the meter, informing us we shouldn't count on drivers offering us low fixed rates because they will drop us the minute a higher paying client comes along.
The reservation process was smooth, but they could have given us a quieter room considering we stayed for a week. Room 7 has a kitchen to one side, and windows open to the breakfast area on the other. Workers arrive around 5:30 AM, guests leave for tours between 5am and 8:30am, and breakfast is served from 8-10 am. So request another room if you want to sleep in!
The early sunrise will also affect you since there are not blackout curtains. Even during the low season, convention center events can bring an influx of guests. Whether it's a party hostel or not depends on the crowd.
Room Suggestions
Room 5 has a small window opening towards the courtyard, and room 6 has a small window that opens in the direction of the breakfast area, but is a little farther from the reception so probably less noise than room 7. Rooms 1, 2, 3, and 4 are also on first floor, but on the other side of the reception, with less noise than the breakfast area. There are both dorms and private rooms on the second floor, including one with a balcony that was under repair. Also, there are no closets or storage space in the rooms.
Private rooms have 2 single beds than can be pushed together to form a queen sized bed. A tight fitting pillowed mattress cover is used to make the division of the two beds unnoticeable. It is questionable whether or not this type of mattress cover can be cleaned between guests, so it would be preferable if there was another washable barrier or an additional sheet between this cover and the bed sheet.
General
The rooms are cleaned daily by an excellent housekeeping staff. The bathrooms are well designed, water actually drains unlike many shower floors in Brazil. The hostel has a courtyard with a clothesline that takes sun in the morning. The included breakfast is simple: bread, cereal, fruit and juice from a powdered mix. Sometimes bread and fruit leftover from the day before are available in the kitchen, which is useful if you have an early tour departure. There is a small kitchen with a stove, filtered water and refrigerator available for common use. Two computers are available as well as cable TV with couches in the common area. No locked luggage storage, but luggage can be stored openly under the stairs in the common area in front of the reception.
Security
The front gate is easy to open without an attendant and no security camera monitors the entrance, but security cameras can be found in all hallways around the rooms. I felt quite safe in the hostel and the neighborhood, especially compared to some other cities in Brazil. Staff controlled the front entrance well; I overheard a conversation where the staff told guests, "I don't care how many and how beautiful these girls are or what university they are from! They cannot come past the front gate!"
