“Instant booking” means your shortlet is confirmed the moment you pay. “Host confirms” means you pay first, then the host accepts or declines your request within a set time. If a host declines or does not answer in time, you get your money back. On Cabans, the badge on each home’s booking box tells you which way it works.
Both are safe ways to book. The difference is how soon you know your stay is certain. This guide explains each one, step by step, so you know what to expect after you press pay.
Two badges, two ways
Open a shortlet that takes online bookings. Near the top of the booking box, you see one of two badges:
| “Instant booking” | “Host confirms” | |
|---|---|---|
| When you pay | Your stay is confirmed straight away | Your request goes to the host |
| Waiting | None | Until the host answers, within the time they set |
| Your status | “Confirmed” | “Waiting for the host”, then “Confirmed” |
| The address | Shown on your stay page at once | Shown once the host accepts |
| If it does not go ahead | Not applicable | You are refunded if the host declines or does not answer |
There is no search filter for instant booking yet. You find out on each home’s own page. If you need a certain answer fast, check the badge before you spend time choosing dates.
Before you pay: the same for both
The first steps are the same whichever badge a home has:
- Pick your check-in and check-out dates on the calendar.
- Check the price breakdown: the nights, any discount, the cleaning fee, the caution deposit and the total.
- Read the cancellation line. It tells you until when you can cancel for a full refund.
- Press “Reserve”. Your dates are held for 30 minutes while you pay. You are not charged yet.
- Pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is added and shown before you pay, and it is not refunded.
The price, the cancellation terms and your refund rights do not depend on the badge. Only what happens after you pay is different. For a full walk-through, see how to book a shortlet in Lagos.
Instant booking
With “Instant booking”, the host has already said yes to any guest who books free dates within their rules. So as soon as your payment goes through, your stay is confirmed.
- The confirmation page says “Your stay is confirmed” and tells you the address, check-in steps and house rules are on your stay page.
- You get an email: “Your stay at [the property] is confirmed”.
- Your stay appears in “My Stays” under “Upcoming”, with the status “Confirmed”.
Instant booking is best when you need certainty now: a trip this week, a flight already booked, or a guest arriving tonight.
Host confirms
With “Host confirms”, the host looks at each paid request before saying yes. Some hosts prefer it because they like to know who is coming, or they manage the home around other plans.
- You pay. The confirmation page says “Request sent to the host” and shows the time the host has until to accept.
- You get an email: “We have your payment for [the property]”.
- Your booking shows “Waiting for the host” in My Stays. The nights are kept for you while you wait, so nobody else can book them.
- When the host accepts, the status changes to “Confirmed” and you get an email: “[Host] accepted your stay”.
- The address and check-in steps then appear on your stay page.
While you wait, you can still ask to change your dates. You can also cancel, as long as you are before your free-cancellation deadline. See what happens after you pay for every screen.
How long a host can take
Each host sets how long they have to answer a request. The choices are 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 or 72 hours, or 7 days. The standard is 24 hours (one day). The clock starts when you pay.
You never have to guess. Your stay page and the payment email show the exact date and time the host has until, in West Africa Time (WAT).
Tips for requests:
- Book early for busy dates. If a host has a long answer time, give yourself room to book somewhere else if they say no.
- Read the listing first. If the home does not suit your plans, such as a party or a large group, choose another rather than hoping the host agrees.
- Check your email and My Stays. The answer can come at any time within the host’s window.
- Do not book two homes for the same nights “just in case”. If both accept, you would have to cancel one, and only in time for a refund.
If the host says no
A host can decline a request, for example if the home needs repairs. If they do not answer before their deadline, the request is declined for them. Either way, you are not left paying for a stay you cannot have.
- Your booking shows “Declined by the host”.
- You get an email: “Your booking at [the property] was declined”, or “…was not accepted in time” if the host did not answer.
- A refund of the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit is started. It shows as “Refund on its way”, then “Refunded”.
- Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
- The nights go back on sale, so you can book another home for the same dates.
If this happens close to your trip, look for a home with “Instant booking” next, so your new stay is confirmed straight away.
After your stay is confirmed
Once your stay is confirmed, by either route, everything you need is on your stay page in My Stays:
- the check-in and check-out dates and times;
- “Your stay guide”, with the address, the host’s directions and the house rules;
- your cancellation line, showing until when you can still cancel for free;
- “Message your host”, for any questions before you travel;
- “Your ID”, if the home asks guests for one.
From the day before check-in, you can press “I have arrived” when you get there. Your host hands over the keys and approves your check-in, and your door code and Wi-Fi password then appear on your stay page. They are never sent by email. Our guide to shortlet check-in and check-out times helps you plan the day.
Which suits your trip?
| Your trip | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Leaving today or tomorrow | “Instant booking” |
| Flights or events already fixed | “Instant booking”, or a request made well ahead |
| Planning weeks or months ahead | Either. Choose the home you like best. |
| A special home you have your heart on | Either. Send the request early. |
Are you a host deciding which to offer? Read instant book or request to book: which suits hosts? Hosts can list a short let and choose either way.
Find your stay
Find a shortlet you can book and check the badge in each booking box. Popular places to start are Lekki, Ikeja and Abuja, or browse every city on the short let page.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Instant booking” mean on a shortlet?
It means your stay is confirmed as soon as you pay. You do not wait for the host to accept. Your stay page then shows the address, the check-in steps and the house rules.
What does “Host confirms” mean?
It means you pay first, and your request then goes to the host, who accepts or declines it within a set time. If they decline or do not answer in time, you get your money back.
How long does a host have to accept my booking request?
Each host chooses: 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 or 72 hours, or 7 days. The standard is 24 hours. After you pay, your stay page and your email show the exact time the host has until.
What happens if the host declines my request?
Your booking shows “Declined by the host”, you get an email, and a refund of the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit is started. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
Can someone else book my dates while I wait for the host?
No. Once you have paid, those nights are kept for your request while the host decides. If the host declines or does not answer, the nights go back on sale.
Can I filter search results to instant booking homes only?
Not at the moment. You see the badge on each home’s own page, in its booking box. If you need a quick answer, look for “Instant booking” before you pick your dates.
Can I cancel while I am waiting for the host?
Yes, as long as you are before your free-cancellation deadline. Open your stay page and press “Cancel booking”. The cancellation is automatic, and your refund is started.
Related guides
How to book a shortlet in Lagos · How to pay for a shortlet safely · Instant book or request to book (for hosts) · Shortlet caution fee refund · Check-in and check-out times
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