I had a very bad experience staying at the Piramide:
1) They demanded up-front pay for my whole stay - which is their strategy to discourage you from leaving the place if you don't like it
2) Breakfast and lunch buffets are very limited when compared to other hotels in Natal
3) Internet is very slow and unstable, and did not work in my room - I had to carry my laptop to the lobby to use it
4) The restaurant AC is insufficient, so it's always very hot during meals
5) The tradeshow area AC barely works, so the place is uncomfortably hot (the AC in the meeting rooms is fine)
6) Service is not very friendly
7) The shower area has a curtain instead of glass, and the curtain in my room (and other guests I talked to) was moldy and dirty. The wall also had mold between the tiles. Terrible for people with allergies.
8) Electronic key "pocket" in room, to activate lights, is merely decorative - it does not work.
9) Room safe is old and small (no digital activation). If one needs to use it, there is a daily fee of ~USD$1.50 for the rental of a lock, which has to be picked up at the front desk.
I think this hotel may have been great 20 years ago. But it seems to be struggling financially and cutting corners in every possible way, with under-qualified staff and very poor physical maintenance. If something is not done soon, it is likely to go bankrupt or lose its "5-star" rating - which it absolutely doesn't deserve anyway.
