You can book a shortlet in Nigeria from abroad online, with the price and payment in naira. On Cabans, you pick your dates on a home’s page, pay online through Paystack, and your stay page holds the address, the arrival steps and, once you are checked in, the door code. The things that catch visitors out are card payments, time zones and late-night arrivals, so this guide covers each one.
It is written for people coming home for a visit, for December, or for a family event, and for anyone booking a shortlet for parents or relatives in Nigeria.
Prices and payment in naira
On Cabans, prices are in naira (₦), and a stay is always charged in naira, even if you choose to view prices in another currency. When you pick your dates, the booking box shows a “Price Breakdown”: the nights, any discount, the cleaning fee, the refundable caution deposit and the “Total”.
You pay online through Paystack when you book, by card or another way the Paystack window offers. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by you, the guest. You see it before you pay, and it is not refunded. Your bank then turns the naira amount into your own currency at its rate on the day.
Before you book, call your bank or check its app:
- Can the card pay online in naira? Some banks block online payments abroad until you allow them.
- Is there a fee? Some banks charge a fee on payments in another currency.
- Will you need to approve it? Keep your phone and banking app ready when you pay.
We cannot promise that every card issued outside Nigeria will work. If one is declined, try another card or ask your bank why.
Never pay a stranger by transfer. Fake shortlet adverts are a real risk when you cannot view the home first. Paying through a booking page keeps your money traceable and your refund rights clear. See how to pay for a shortlet safely and our guide to paying for your stay.
Times are West Africa Time
Every time on Cabans is the home’s local time, West Africa Time (WAT). Screens write deadlines like “Tue 6 Oct 2026, 14:00 WAT”. WAT is one hour ahead of GMT all year, because Nigeria does not change its clocks in summer.
| Where you are | In December (winter) | In July (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom and Ireland | Nigeria is 1 hour ahead | Same time |
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain | Same time | Nigeria is 1 hour behind |
| US and Canada East Coast (New York, Toronto) | Nigeria is 6 hours ahead | Nigeria is 5 hours ahead |
| US Central (Houston, Chicago) | Nigeria is 7 hours ahead | Nigeria is 6 hours ahead |
| United Arab Emirates (Dubai) | Nigeria is 3 hours behind | Nigeria is 3 hours behind |
These deadlines all run on WAT, so work them out in your own time:
- The 30-minute hold. Pressing “Reserve” keeps your dates for 30 minutes while you pay.
- The host’s answer time. If the box says “Host confirms”, the host has until the time shown to accept. The standard is 24 hours.
- The free-cancellation deadline. For example, “Free cancellation until Tue 6 Oct 2026, 14:00 WAT”.
- Check-in and check-out. The standard is “from 14:00” and “by 11:00”, but each host can set their own.
Booking for family
Booking a shortlet for parents, siblings or a whole family gathering works well if you plan the handover.
- Count everyone. Set “Guests” to everyone staying, children included. The host may set a limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”.
- Know where things live. The booking, its emails and the stay page belong to the account that made it. The stay page is where the address, the “I have arrived” button and, after check-in, the door code and Wi-Fi password appear. Codes are never sent by email.
- Tell the host who is coming. After booking, use “Message your host” to give the names of the people arriving, a phone number and the arrival time. Agree how they will get the keys and the door code.
- Or let them book. If a relative is comfortable online, they can book from their own Cabans account, so everything is in their hands on the day.
- ID. Some homes ask for a photo ID after booking. Ask the host whose ID they need, and see what ID you need to book a shortlet.
Booking a big home for a wedding or a family reunion? Read the house rules on visitors and events carefully, and ask the host before you book.
Arrival after a long flight
International flights to Lagos land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, and to Abuja at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The drive to your shortlet can take much longer than the distance suggests, especially in the evening.
- Match your dates to your flight. If you land early in the morning, book the night before, so the home is yours when you arrive. That night is a night you pay for.
- Landing late? Stay near the airport for the first night. See shortlets near Lagos airport and shortlets in Ikeja.
- Send your flight details. Give your host the flight number and landing time, and update them if it changes.
- Be ready to get online. Your arrival steps, “Message your host” and, later, your door code are on your stay page. Sort out roaming or a data plan before you fly, and carry a power bank.
On arrival, press “I have arrived” on your stay page. It works from the day before check-in, so a midnight landing is fine.
Your host hands over the keys and then approves your check-in. Your door code and Wi-Fi password appear on your stay page only after that.
If plans change
Flights change, visas take longer, and family plans move. Know your options before you book:
- Cancel in time. Each home shows its free-cancellation deadline before you pay. Cancel before it and you get a full refund of the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. Paystack’s fee is not refunded.
- Booked late? If you book after the deadline has passed, the stay cannot be cancelled. The booking box tells you this before you pay.
- Change your dates before you arrive. Press “Change dates or guests”. Shorter stays inside your dates can apply at once; longer or different dates need your host’s yes.
- Stay longer. Once checked in, you can ask your host for extra nights with “Extend my stay”. They must approve and the dates must be free, and you pay for the extra nights through Paystack. See how to extend a shortlet stay.
- Leave early. Unused nights are not refunded unless your host approves a refund.
The details are in how to cancel a booking. Your caution deposit comes back to the card or account you paid with, after your host has checked the home.
Coming home for December?
December is one of the busiest times of year for shortlets in Lagos, and the best homes go early. Book as soon as your flights are fixed, and check the cancellation deadline in case they move. See Detty December shortlets in Lagos and our guide to planning your Detty December stay.
Book your stay
Find a shortlet you can book online, with the full price and the cancellation deadline shown before you pay. Good places to start are shortlets in Lekki, Victoria Island and Abuja.
Own a home in Nigeria that sits empty while you are away? List your short let and let it earn between your visits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a shortlet in Lagos from abroad and pay in naira?
Yes. On Cabans every stay is charged in naira, even if you view prices in another currency. You pay online through Paystack when you book, and your bank converts the naira amount into your own currency.
Will my foreign card work?
It may, but we cannot promise that every card issued outside Nigeria will work. Call your bank before you book. Ask whether the card can make online payments in naira, whether there is a fee, and whether you must approve the payment in your banking app.
What time zone are check-in times and deadlines in?
West Africa Time (WAT), the home’s local time. WAT is one hour ahead of GMT all year, because Nigeria does not change its clocks. Screens write deadlines like “Tue 6 Oct 2026, 14:00 WAT”.
Can I book a shortlet for my parents or family?
Yes. Count everyone who will stay in the number of guests. The booking, the arrival steps and the door code live on the stay page of the account that booked, so agree with the host how your family will get the keys and the code, or let the person staying book from their own account.
What if my flight is delayed?
Message your host as soon as you know. You can tell them you have arrived any time from the day before check-in until your check-out date. Nights you miss are still part of your booking.
How do I get my caution deposit back if I live abroad?
The same way as anyone else. After check-out your host checks the home and releases it, and it is refunded to the card or account you paid with. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days.
Related guides
How to book a shortlet in Lagos · How to pay for a shortlet safely · Shortlets near Lagos airport · Detty December in Lagos · Relocating to Lagos
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