Arriving Late at a Shortlet: What to Do

If you will arrive late at a shortlet, tell your host early, agree how you will get in, and keep your stay page open on your phone. On Cabans, “I have arrived” works from the day before check-in until your check-out date, so a late arrival is fine. But your host still has to approve your check-in before your door code shows.

This guide is for stays booked on Cabans. It covers flight delays, late-night traffic, estate gates, and what to do if nobody answers.

Tell your host early

A late arrival is only a problem when it is a surprise. As soon as you know you will be late, whether from a delayed flight, traffic or a late meeting, tell your host.

• Press “Message your host” on your stay page. It opens a chat with your host.
• Give your new arrival time, how you are travelling and how many of you there are.
• Ask who will let you in, and until what time they can do it.
• Ask whether the estate gate closes at night, and what to tell the guard.
• Send an update when you land, or when you set off.

The check-in time on your stay page, for example “Check in from … 14:00”, is the earliest you can check in. It is not a deadline. But your host has a life too, so agree a plan rather than just turning up at midnight.

In Lagos, allow plenty of time for traffic from the airport, even late in the evening. If you land late often, shortlets near Lagos airport can save a long drive. Browse shortlets in Ikeja to see what is close.

A message you can send

Copy this into “Message your host” and change the parts in [square brackets]:

“Hello [host's name], my flight is delayed and I now expect to reach the property at about [time]. We are [number] guests, coming by [taxi, car]. Who will let us in at that time, and is there anything I should tell the gate? Thank you.”

It gives your host everything they need in one message. They can reply with a plan, not a string of questions.

Arriving early instead?

Early is harder than late. The cleaner may still be getting the home ready right up to the check-in time. Ask your host in advance whether early check-in is possible. If it is not, ask whether you can leave your bags, and plan a meal or a coffee nearby while you wait.

When “I have arrived” works

On your stay page, the card “Arriving” has a button called “I have arrived”. It works from the day before check-in until your check-out date. So whether you arrive at midnight, or even a day late, you can still use it.

1. When you reach the property, open your stay page.
2. If it helps, add a note in “Message for your host”, such as “at the gate with two bags”.
3. Press “I have arrived”. Your host is told you are there.
4. You see “Waiting for your keys”. The page checks for news every 20 seconds, so you do not need to refresh it.

Your host then hands over the keys and approves your check-in. Your door code and Wi-Fi password show only after that. At night, it means your host, or someone on their team, must be awake to approve it. Agree this before you travel.

How to check in when you arrive shows each screen, and how to see your door code and Wi-Fi password explains the codes.

Arriving a day late?

Your booking stays yours, but the nights you miss are still part of it. If you know before your check-in time, you can change your dates from your stay page with “Change dates or guests”.

• Before your free-cancellation deadline, a shorter stay inside your booked dates applies straight away. You see how much less it costs, and that amount is refunded to you.
• After the deadline, your host has to accept the change first.
• Once your check-in time has passed, the dates can no longer be changed.

A refund reaches you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days. How to change your dates or number of guests has the details.

Gates and estate security at night

Some Nigerian estates close their gates at night, and some check every car. A guard who has not been told about you may not let you in. Plan for it:

• Ask your host to tell security your name, your arrival time and your car or taxi.
• Save the address and directions offline. They are in “Your stay guide”, under “Getting there and checking in”, once your booking is confirmed.
• Ask for a landmark. Drivers find places by landmarks, especially at night.
• Have your ID and booking number ready in case the gate asks.
• Stay calm with the guard. If they do not know about you, message your host and wait.

If the grid is off when you arrive, the compound may be dark. Use your phone's torch, and ask your host how to switch on the generator or inverter, or whether someone will do it for you. It is worth asking before you set off.

If you cannot reach your host

It can happen: a flat phone battery, a missed message, a host asleep. Work through these steps:

1. Send another chat message with “Message your host”, with your exact location.
2. Try any other contact your host gave you, such as a caretaker's number.
3. Wait somewhere safe and well lit: inside your taxi with the driver, or in a busy public place. Do not wait alone on a dark street.
4. Contact Cabans through our contact page, with your booking number.
5. Never force a door, a window or a gate.

Keep a note of the times you arrived and messaged. It helps our team look into what happened.

Once you have the keys, you can also send “Report an issue” or “Something else” from “Stay services”. The other requests open once your host completes your check-in.

Safety on a late arrival

• Use a registered taxi or a ride-hailing app, and share your trip with a friend or family member.
• Keep your phone charged and carry a power bank. You need your stay page for the codes.
• Keep some mobile data. The Wi-Fi password only shows once you are checked in.
• Do not share your door code or your stay page with anyone.
• Once inside, check the doors and windows lock.
• Do not open the door at night to anyone you are not expecting.
• Save 112, Nigeria's emergency number, and the estate security number.

Before you leave for the airport, or before you set off by road, open your stay page once. Check the address, the arrival steps and your host's last message. Then tell a friend or family member where you are staying and when you expect to arrive.

Is it safe to stay in a shortlet? has more safety advice.

Booking when you know you will land late

A little planning at the booking stage makes a late arrival easy:

• Pick a home close to where you land. In Lagos, a home in Ikeja means a much shorter drive from the airport at night.
• Read the arrival instructions and house rules before you book.
• Ask the host about late arrivals before you pay.
• Think about booking the night before, if you land after midnight.

Ready to book? Find a shortlet you can book online, or browse shortlets in Lagos and shortlets in Abuja.

Own a home near the airport? Late arrivals need good hosts. List your shortlet on Cabans.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Shortlet check-in day · Check-in and check-out times · Shortlets near Lagos airport · Shortlet safety tips · Problems during a stay · Booking from abroad