The best place to stay in Lagos with kids is a shortlet on a quiet street or in a gated estate, close to where you will spend your days. Lekki and Ikoyi suit Island trips and beach days. Magodo, Gbagada and Ikeja GRA are calmer on the mainland.
A shortlet (short let) gives a family what a hotel room cannot: bedrooms for everyone, a kitchen, a living room and space to play. This guide covers what to look for, the safety checks to make, the areas families choose and how to plan a family staycation.
Ready to look? Start with 3-bedroom shortlets in Lekki or shortlets in Magodo.
What families need from a shortlet
Travelling with children changes what matters. A stylish studio is no good if the baby has nowhere to sleep. Before you look at photos, list what your family needs:
- Enough bedrooms and beds for everyone to sleep well.
- A kitchen for breakfasts, baby food and snacks. Eating out three times a day with children is tiring and costly.
- A living room where children can play while adults talk.
- Steady power. Children sleep better with the fan or air conditioning running all night. Ask about the generator hours, inverter and diesel.
- Clean water, and a safe supply of drinking water.
- A washing machine, if you are staying more than a few nights.
- A quiet street. Busy roads, bars and event spaces can keep small children awake.
- Somewhere to play: a garden, a compound, or a pool you can supervise.
Space and sleeping
Count the beds, not just the bedrooms. A “2-bedroom” flat may have one double bed and one small single. Ask the host exactly what is in each room.
| Your family | Look for |
|---|---|
| Two adults, one baby | 1 bedroom with space for a cot, or 2 bedrooms |
| Two adults, two children | 2 bedrooms, ideally 2 bathrooms |
| Two adults, three or more children | 3 bedrooms, 2 or more bathrooms |
| Grandparents or another family too | 3 or 4 bedrooms, or a duplex with a room downstairs |
Also ask about:
- A cot or an extra mattress. Some hosts have one. Ask before you book, not on arrival.
- Stairs and lifts. A flat on a high floor with no lift is hard work with a buggy and bags.
- Blackout curtains for afternoon naps.
- The number of guests allowed. Everyone counts, children and babies too.
Not sure which size to pick? Read 1, 2 or 3 bedroom shortlet: which size do you need? Travelling with a big group? See shortlet duplex for a group.
On Cabans, the booking box shows the maximum under “Guests”, for example “Up to 4 guests”. If the host has set no limit, it says “Everyone staying, children included”. The price does not change with the number of guests, but you cannot book for more people than the host allows.
Safety checks
Every home is different, and a host will not always think like a parent. Ask these questions before you book, and look again when you arrive:
- The pool. Is it fenced or gated? How deep is it? Who else uses it? Never leave children alone near water.
- Balconies and windows. Are the railings high, with no big gaps? Do windows open wide on upper floors?
- Stairs. Are there open stairs a toddler could reach?
- Power. Are sockets, extension leads and wires out of reach? Where is the generator? It must never be near windows or doors, because its fumes are dangerous.
- The kitchen. Where is the gas cylinder, and does it have a working valve?
- Furniture. Glass tables and sharp edges can hurt small children.
- Mosquitoes. Are there window nets? Pack repellent either way.
- Security. Is the home in a gated estate, with guards at the gate?
- Help nearby. Where is the nearest hospital, clinic and pharmacy?
Pack a small first-aid kit and your children’s medicines. Save the address and the host’s number on your phone. For more, read is it safe to stay in a shortlet? and our property inspection checklist.
Areas families choose
In Lagos, the right area mostly depends on traffic. Stay near where you will spend your days, and the children spend less time in the car.
- Lekki. Lekki suits families who want bigger homes, estates with pools and easy trips to beaches and malls. Lekki Phase 1 is closest to Victoria Island. Browse 3-bedroom shortlets in Lekki.
- Ikoyi. Quiet, green and central, with many serviced buildings. It suits families who want calm and security. See shortlets in Ikoyi.
- Victoria Island. Central for business and restaurants, but busier and louder. Good for short trips. See Victoria Island shortlets.
- Magodo. A planned estate on the mainland with low buildings and family-sized homes. Calm, with a residential feel. See shortlets in Magodo.
- Gbagada. Estate streets and a quieter pace, with the Island reachable across the Third Mainland Bridge. See Gbagada shortlets.
- Ikeja and Ikeja GRA. Handy for the airport and for family visits on the mainland. See shortlets in Ikeja.
For a full comparison, read the best areas for a short let in Lagos and Lagos Island or Mainland.
Planning a family staycation
A staycation is a short holiday close to home. For Lagos families, two or three nights in a shortlet with a pool or a garden can feel like a real break, with no flights and no long drive.
- Pick your dates early. School holidays, long weekends and December are busy. Good family homes go first.
- Choose the home around the children. A pool you can watch, a garden, or a big living room for rainy days.
- Plan the food. Check the kitchen, and find the nearest supermarket. Cooking breakfast and eating out once a day keeps costs and stress down.
- Travel outside rush hour. Leave in the late morning, not at 5 in the evening.
- Read the house rules together. Check the rules on noise, visitors and the pool before you book, so nobody is surprised.
- Pack the essentials. Medicines, first-aid kit, repellent, swimwear, snacks, a torch, a power bank, and favourite toys or bedtime things.
For more ideas, read the Nigerian staycation guide. Hosts sometimes write their rules on children and the pool in their listing, so read it closely. Our house rules guide shows what to look for.
On Cabans, homes that take online bookings show a booking box. Pick your dates and the “Price Breakdown” shows the nights, any discount, the cleaning fee, the refundable caution deposit and the total. You pay online through Paystack. Paystack’s payment processing fee is shown before you pay, and it is not refunded. The box also tells you until when you can cancel for free.
Once your booking is confirmed, your stay page shows the address and the host’s house rules. See weekend staycation shortlets in Lagos, and how to check dates and prices before you book.
Getting around with children
Lagos traffic is hard on small children. A little planning makes the days much easier:
- Bring your own car seat if your children use one. Ride-hailing cars and drivers rarely have them.
- Plan one outing a day. Two trips across town in one day means hours in the car.
- Travel outside rush hour, and keep water and snacks in the car.
- Mind the heat. Hats, sun cream and plenty of water, especially on beach days.
- Take care at the beach. The sea at Lagos beaches can be rough. Keep children close and out of deep water.
- Save the address of your shortlet and a nearby clinic on your phone.
Staying close to the places you plan to visit is the easiest way to cut driving time. That is why the area matters as much as the home.
Before you book: a family checklist
- Are there enough beds for everyone, and a cot if you need one?
- Is everyone, children included, within the maximum number of guests?
- Is the pool fenced, and are balconies and stairs safe?
- Is the power steady at night?
- Is there a kitchen you can cook in?
- Is the street quiet, and the estate secure?
- Is it close to where you will spend your days?
- Do you know the full price, including any cleaning fee and caution deposit?
Eight yeses? Book it. Find a shortlet you can book across Lagos, or go straight to Lekki Phase 1. Have a family-friendly home yourself? Families need homes like yours: list your short let.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay in Lagos with kids?
It depends on your plans. Lekki and Ikoyi suit families who want the Island, beaches and bigger homes. Magodo, Gbagada and Ikeja GRA are calmer mainland choices. Pick a quiet street or estate near where you will spend your days.
Is a shortlet better than a hotel for a family?
Often, yes. A shortlet gives you separate bedrooms, a kitchen for children’s meals, a living room and sometimes a washing machine. For one night a hotel can be easier. For two nights or more, a shortlet is usually more comfortable for a family.
Do children count as guests in a shortlet?
Yes. Count everyone staying, including babies and children, when you check the maximum number of guests. Arriving with more people than agreed can cause problems with the host and the estate.
Is a shortlet with a pool safe for young children?
It can be, with care. Ask whether the pool is fenced or gated, how deep it is and who else uses it. Never leave children alone near water, even for a moment.
How many bedrooms does a family of four need?
Usually two: one for the parents and one for the children. Check the beds, not just the rooms, and ask about a cot or an extra mattress for small children. A second bathroom helps a lot with busy mornings.
What should I pack for a family staycation?
Medicines and a small first-aid kit, insect repellent, swimwear, snacks, a phone charger and power bank, a torch, favourite toys and bedtime things. Ask the host what is already there, such as a cot, towels or kitchen items.
Does a shortlet cost more for more guests?
Not on Cabans. The price does not change with the number of guests. The booking box shows the maximum, for example “Up to 4 guests”, and you cannot book for more people than the host allows.
Related guides
Best areas for a short let in Lagos · The Nigerian staycation · Which size shortlet? · Shortlet duplex for a group · Short let vs hotel · Shortlet scams: warning signs
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