For Detty December in Lagos, book your shortlet early, as soon as your dates are firm. Stay close to where you will spend your evenings, and budget for December prices and traffic. Before you pay, check the full price, the house rules and until when you can cancel.
This guide is for anyone heading to Lagos for the festive season: people coming home from abroad, visitors from other states, and Lagosians planning a December staycation.
What Detty December means for a place to stay
“Detty December” is the Lagos nickname for the festive season. It is weeks of concerts, parties, weddings, beach days and family gatherings. Many Nigerians who live abroad fly home for it, and visitors come from across the country.
Most of what people come for fits into a few groups:
- concerts, shows and club nights;
- weddings, birthdays and family parties;
- beach days and boat trips;
- church services, carols and New Year’s Eve;
- food, shopping, art and time with old friends.
For a place to stay, all of that means four things:
- More demand. The best flats in popular areas are booked first.
- Higher prices. Many hosts charge more for December nights than for the rest of the year.
- Stricter rules. Some hosts ask for a minimum number of nights, and many ban parties.
- Heavy traffic. Where you stay decides how much of your trip is spent on the road.
When to book (and why early matters)
Book as soon as your travel dates are firm. October and November give you the widest choice of flats and areas. Waiting rarely helps, because the best-value flats tend to go first.
Before you book, have these ready:
- your arrival and departure dates, and your flight times;
- how many people will sleep there, children included;
- your total budget, including a caution deposit (money held against damage, which comes back after you leave);
- the areas where your main plans are.
Booking from abroad? Check that your bank card works for payments in naira, and tell your bank you will be paying from, and travelling to, Nigeria. Allow for the time difference when a host gives you a deadline. Nigeria runs on West Africa Time (WAT) all year.
Early booking also gives you more time to change your mind. Many hosts let you cancel for a full refund until a set time before check-in. Book well ahead of that deadline, and you keep the option to cancel for a refund. Book inside it, and you may not be able to cancel at all.
On Cabans, every shortlet that takes online bookings shows “Free cancellation until…”, with the exact date and time, before you pay. Cancel before then and you get back 100% of the booking, caution deposit included, within 14 days at most (usually about 5 days). Paystack’s payment fee is not refunded. If the stay starts inside the host’s cancellation period, the page says “No free cancellation” instead. See how to cancel a booking, and how early to book a shortlet.
Where to base yourself
Pick the area where you will spend most of your evenings. Many December nights out happen on the Island side, but check where your own events are before you book.
| Area | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Island and Ikoyi | Nights out, restaurants, short trips around the Island | Usually the highest prices; book earliest here |
| Lekki Phase 1 and Lekki | Groups, bigger flats, beach days | The Lekki–Epe Expressway gets very busy in December |
| Ajah | More space for the money, longer stays | Longer trips to Victoria Island at busy times |
| Ikeja | Airport trips, family visits on the Mainland | A long way from Island nights out |
| Yaba and Surulere | Value, family visits, a central Mainland base | Crossing to the Island means the bridges at busy times |
If your group will split its time, choose the side where you will be at night. A late trip home across the bridges can eat into your night. For more on each area, see the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos.
Budgeting for December nights
Budget for the whole trip, not just the night price. A December shortlet bill usually has the nights, sometimes a cleaning fee, and often a refundable caution deposit. Our guide to how much a shortlet in Lagos costs explains each part. Our guide to why Detty December shortlet prices rise shows ways to pay less for your nights.
Then add the costs around the stay:
- Transport. Ride-hailing apps often charge more when demand is high, and December is a high-demand month.
- Food and drink. Eating out every night adds up fast. A flat with a kitchen helps.
- Tickets. Concerts and shows sell out, and prices can rise closer to the date.
- Power. Ask if generator fuel is included, or charged on top.
- A buffer. Keep some money aside for changes and surprises.
Travelling as a group? A three or four-bedroom flat split between friends can cost each person less than separate rooms. Agree who pays what before anyone books, and keep the caution deposit money aside, because it should come back after you leave.
For a group stay, settle these points early, in your group chat:
- One lead guest. One person books, pays and talks to the host, so messages do not get lost.
- Everyone’s share. Agree each person’s share of the nights, the fees and the caution deposit, and when they pay it.
- The house rules. Share them with everyone, especially the rules on visitors, parties and noise.
- Damage. Agree up front who pays if something breaks, so the deposit does not cause a quarrel later.
Own a flat in Lagos? December is the busiest season for hosts. List your short let on Cabans before guests start booking.
Getting around in December traffic
Lagos traffic is at its heaviest in December. A little planning saves hours:
- Group your plans by area. Do the Island on one day and the Mainland on another.
- Plan fewer trips each day. Two outings a day is often plenty.
- Leave early for the airport. The international airport is in Ikeja. From the Island, allow plenty of extra time.
- Book a driver for big days. For a wedding or a long day out, a driver for the day can beat several short rides.
- Consider the water. Ferries and boats run between some Island and Mainland jetties. Check routes and times locally.
- Travel safely at night. Use known drivers or ride-hailing apps, share your trip with a friend, and move in groups late at night.
On arrival day, keep the flat’s address, the host’s phone number and the check-in steps saved on your phone, not just in an app or an email. Networks can be slow when the airport is busy. If your flight lands late, tell your host your new arrival time as soon as you can, so someone is ready to let you in.
Checks before you pay
Busy seasons bring more fake listings, because scammers go where the demand is. Before you pay for any December shortlet, make sure you have:
- the full price in writing: nights, any cleaning fee, the caution deposit and the total;
- the cancellation terms: the last day to cancel for a full refund;
- the house rules, especially on visitors, parties and noise;
- what is included: power hours, water, Wi-Fi and cleaning;
- check-in and check-out times that match your flights;
- a live video call or a viewing, if you are paying anyone directly.
Never pay a stranger by transfer to “hold” a date, and never pay a caution fee before anything else is agreed. Our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria lists ten warning signs.
On Cabans, a stay is paid securely online through Paystack, never by transfer to a host. The booking box shows the full price breakdown and the cancellation deadline before you pay, and Paystack’s payment fee is shown before you pay too. The exact address appears once the booking is confirmed.
See December shortlets in Lagos and start with the area your plans are in, such as Lekki or Ikoyi.
Frequently asked questions
When is Detty December in Lagos?
It is not one event with fixed dates. “Detty December” is the nickname for the festive season in Lagos, when concerts, parties, weddings and family gatherings fill the calendar. It is busiest from around the middle of December into the first days of January. Check each event’s own dates with its organisers.
When should I book a shortlet for Detty December?
As soon as your travel dates are firm. October and November give you the widest choice. Before you pay, check until when you can cancel for a full refund, in case your plans change.
Where should I stay in Lagos for Detty December?
Stay close to where you will spend most evenings. Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki Phase 1 suit people going out on the Island. Ikeja suits airport trips and family visits on the Mainland. Ajah, Yaba and Surulere can give more space for the money.
Are shortlets more expensive in December?
Often, yes. Many hosts set higher prices for December dates, and some ask for a minimum number of nights. Booking early gives you more flats to choose from.
Can I have a party in a shortlet in December?
Only if the house rules allow it. Many hosts and estates do not allow parties, and damage can come out of your caution deposit. Ask the host in writing before you book, and say how many people will come.
What if my flight to Lagos changes?
Check the cancellation and date-change terms before you pay. Know the last day you can cancel for a full refund, and keep your booking details and the host’s contact in one place.
Related guides
How much is a shortlet in Lagos? · Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Shortlet scams: 10 warning signs · The Nigerian staycation · Relocating to Lagos · Long-weekend getaways · Booking a shortlet from abroad
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