A shortlet with a cinema room or a games room is usually a bigger home: a duplex, a large flat or a penthouse, often in Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island. There is no search filter for these rooms, so check each listing’s photos and description. Then ask the host exactly what is in the room, and agree the group rules and the caution deposit before you pay.
This guide explains why these homes are popular and what to ask. It also covers the house rules that matter for groups, how to protect your deposit, and where to look first.
Why guests look for them
A cinema or games room turns a shortlet into the whole plan. You do not need to go out, pay for tickets or worry about the drive home at night.
- Birthdays and celebrations. A film night or a games tournament for a small group.
- Friends’ weekends. Everyone under one roof, with something to do after dinner.
- Family holidays. Children stay busy on rainy days and hot afternoons.
- Match nights. A big screen and good sound for the football.
- Staying in safely. Fun at home means fewer late trips across the city.
Many of these homes also have a pool. A pool and a games room together make a full staycation for a group, with no need to leave.
Here is what the rooms usually mean:
| Room | What it usually has | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema room | A projector or a very big TV, a sound system, dim lights and deep sofas | Film nights, match nights, families |
| Games room | Game consoles, a pool or snooker table, table tennis, darts or board games | Friends, teenagers, birthdays |
| Pool | A private or shared swimming pool, sometimes with loungers | Hot afternoons, children, photos |
Listings use different words for the same thing: “cinema”, “movie room”, “media room”, “home theatre”, “game room” or “recreation room”. Read the whole description, and look for the room in the photos.
Want a pool as well? See shortlets with a pool in Lagos, then check each listing for a cinema or games room.
What to ask the host
Photos can be old. And a “cinema room” can be anything from a home theatre to a TV in a spare bedroom. Ask these questions before you book:
- Is the room private to us? Or is it shared with other flats in the building, with opening hours?
- What exactly is in it? The screen or projector, the sound system, the consoles, how many controllers and which games.
- Does it all work now? Ask for a recent photo or short video of the room switched on.
- Does it run on generator power? A projector, a console and the air conditioning all need steady power.
- Is the room air-conditioned? A closed room full of people gets hot fast.
- What can we watch? Are streaming apps signed in, or do we bring our own login? Is there cable TV?
- Are there time limits? Some estates have quiet hours, so loud films may have to stop at night.
- Is there any extra charge? For using the room, the games, or snacks left in it.
- Can children use it alone? Some hosts ask for an adult in the room at all times.
Get the answers in writing, and keep them. If the room is not as promised, you have something to point to.
Using your own streaming login on a shared TV? Sign out before you leave, so the next guest cannot use your account.
House rules for groups
Homes with cinema and games rooms attract groups, so expect firm rules. Read them before you book, and share them with everyone coming.
- The guest limit. Count everyone who will sleep there, children included. Do not bring extra sleepers.
- Visitors. Ask whether friends can come for a film night, how many, and until what time.
- Parties. A games room is not permission for a party. Ask first, and get the answer in writing.
- Noise. Cinema sound carries. Keep the volume down late at night, especially in estates.
- Food and drinks. Some hosts ban eating or drinking in the cinema room. Spills on sofas and carpets are a common cost.
- Smoking. Usually not allowed indoors. Ask where it is allowed.
- Children. Agree who watches the children in the games room and around the pool.
Choose one lead guest. They book, talk to the host, and make sure the group follows the rules. Our shortlet house rules guide shows the kind of rules to expect. Our guide to booking a shortlet duplex for a group covers bedrooms and splitting the cost.
On Cabans, the booking box shows the host’s guest limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”, and you cannot book for more. If the host has set no limit, it says “Everyone staying, children included”. The number of guests does not change the price.
The caution deposit
A caution deposit is money the host holds in case something is damaged. You get it back after you leave, less the cost of any damage the host can show. Homes with projectors, consoles and pool tables have more to protect, so the deposit can be bigger. Check the amount before you pay.
How to protect it:
- Photograph everything on arrival. The screen, the projector, the controllers, the pool table cloth and the sofas.
- Report problems at once. If something is already broken or missing, tell the host straight away, in writing.
- Keep drinks away from the equipment. One spill can cost more than the whole weekend.
- Do not move heavy equipment. Ask the host if you need something moved.
- Count the controllers before you leave. Small items go missing in a group.
- Agree who pays for damage. The simplest rule for a group: whoever breaks it, pays for it.
If something does break, tell the host the same day. Honest, early reports make it much easier to agree a fair cost. Our guide to getting a shortlet caution fee back explains the rest.
On Cabans, the deposit is a fixed amount shown before you pay, as “Caution deposit” with the word “refundable”. During the stay, use “Report an issue” on your stay page for anything broken. After check-out the host returns the deposit, or raises a question about it. Nothing is kept until the Cabans team decides. If the host has not settled it 14 days after you leave, you can ask our team to release it. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. See how to get your caution deposit back.
Where to look
Cinema and games rooms need space, so start with bigger homes. Three-bedroom shortlets and larger are the best bet. Then check the photos and description of each one.
- Lekki and Lekki Phase 1. Newer, larger homes, some with pools. Start with three-bedroom shortlets in Lekki and Lekki Phase 1.
- Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Large flats and penthouses, close to restaurants. See shortlets in Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
- Ajah. Bigger homes further along the coast. See shortlets in Ajah.
- The mainland. Family homes in the larger estates. See Magodo and Ikeja.
Not sure how big to go? Our guide to choosing the right shortlet size helps you match bedrooms to your group.
Found one you like? Open the booking box on the listing and pick your dates. It shows the price for your exact nights, the caution deposit and the free-cancellation deadline before you pay. You pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by you, and you see it before you pay. It is not refunded. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.
Your film night checklist
A few small things make the room work on the night:
- Download before you go. Internet can be slow or drop in bad weather. Save a few films and the match highlights to a phone or laptop.
- Bring your own cable. An HDMI cable and an adapter for your laptop or phone saves a lot of fiddling.
- Check the sound early. Test the volume in the afternoon, not at midnight, so you know the level that stays polite.
- Plan snacks away from the sofas. Eat at the table, then bring drinks with lids into the room, if the host allows them.
- Keep a torch and a power bank. If the power goes mid-film, you will want them.
Is it worth paying more?
A home with a cinema or games room can cost more a night than a plain flat of the same size. For a group, it can still be good value. Add up what a night out would cost everyone: tickets, snacks, rides there and back, and a late ride home. Then compare it with the extra cost of the home, shared between the group.
It is also about the kind of trip you want. If you plan to be out every day, a plain flat near the action may suit you better. If the home is the holiday, the room is worth it.
Find your shortlet
Find a shortlet you can book in Lagos, start with the bigger homes, and ask the host about the room before you pay. For a group trip, three-bedroom homes in Lekki are a good first place to look.
Does your home have a cinema room, a games room or a pool? List your shortlet and show it off in the photos, so the right guests find it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a shortlet with a cinema room in Lagos?
There is no cinema or games-room filter. Browse bigger shortlets, such as three-bedroom homes in Lekki, Ikoyi or Victoria Island. Check each listing’s photos and description for the room, then ask the host what is in it.
Is the cinema room private to our group?
Usually, when you book a whole house. In some apartment buildings the cinema or games room is shared with other residents and has opening hours. Ask the host before you book, and get the answer in writing.
Do we pay extra to use the games room?
Ask first. Some hosts include it in the price, and others charge for extras such as games, snacks or late use. Agree any extra cost in writing before you pay.
Will the projector work when the power goes?
Only if the generator or inverter can run it. Ask how many hours the generator runs, and whether the air conditioning in the room runs at the same time.
Can we have a party in a shortlet with a cinema room?
Only if the host agrees first. A cinema room is not permission for a party. Say how many visitors you expect, and get the answer in writing.
Does a cinema or games room mean a bigger caution deposit?
It can. Each host sets their own caution deposit, and expensive equipment gives them more to protect. Check the amount before you pay, and photograph the equipment when you arrive.
What if something in the games room is already broken when we arrive?
Take photos, then tell the host straight away. On Cabans, use “Report an issue” on your stay page, so there is a record from the start of your stay.
Related guides
Shortlet duplex for a group · Shortlet house rules · Is a shortlet caution fee refundable? · Which size shortlet do you need? · The Nigerian staycation guide
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