Book one bedroom for each couple, and one for each adult who wants a room of their own. A person travelling alone or a couple needs a studio or a 1 bedroom shortlet. Four friends or a small family usually need 2 bedrooms, and bigger groups need 3 or more.
Then check two things before you pay: the host’s guest limit, and the price per person. This guide shows you how to do both, with links to shortlets of each size.
The quick answer, by group
| Who is travelling | Size to look at | Check this first |
|---|---|---|
| One person on a work trip | Studio or 1 bedroom | A desk, fast Wi-Fi and power at night |
| A couple | 1 bedroom | The bed size and the kitchen |
| Two friends or colleagues | 2 bedrooms | Two bathrooms, so nobody queues |
| A family with young children | 1 or 2 bedrooms | Space for a cot, stairs and balcony safety |
| Two couples or four friends | 2 bedrooms | Both rooms en suite, with air conditioning |
| A family of five or six | 3 bedrooms | Parking and a second place to sit |
| A bigger group or a wedding party | 3 bedrooms or more, or a duplex | The guest limit and the rules on visitors |
Want to look now? Browse 2 bedroom shortlets in Lekki or 1 bedroom shortlets in Ikeja, or start from the shortlet hub and pick your area.
Studio or 1 bedroom
A studio puts the bed, the sitting area and the kitchen in one room. A 1 bedroom gives you a separate bedroom with a door. Both suit one person, or a couple, for a few nights or a few weeks.
Pick a studio or 1 bedroom when:
- you are in town for work and will be out most of the day;
- you are a couple on a weekend break or a staycation;
- you want the lowest total bill and do not need much space.
Check these before you book:
- The bed. Is it a double, a queen or a king? Photos can hide a small bed.
- A place to work. A table and a comfortable chair matter on a work trip.
- Power at night. Ask whether the generator, inverter or solar runs the air conditioning all night.
- The kitchen. A studio may have only a small cooker. That is fine for a weekend, but not for a month.
For a single guest, the difference between a studio and a 1 bedroom is mostly comfort. For a couple staying longer, the door between the bed and the living room is worth a lot.
2 bedrooms
A 2 bedroom shortlet is the most flexible size. It suits two couples, three or four friends, colleagues on the same trip, or a family of three or four.
Check these before you book:
- Two real bedrooms. Make sure both rooms have a door and a proper bed. A sofa in the living room is not a second bedroom.
- Bathrooms. “All rooms en suite” means each bedroom has its own bathroom. A visitors’ toilet helps when friends drop by.
- Air conditioning in each room. In Lagos or Abuja heat, one cool room and one hot room will start arguments.
- Enough power for both. Ask whether the backup power can run both air conditioners at once.
- Room sizes. The second bedroom is often smaller. Decide who gets which room before you arrive.
If two couples are sharing, look for two rooms of similar size, each with its own bathroom. It saves a lot of awkward talk later.
3 bedrooms or more
Three bedrooms or more suit families of five or six, groups of friends, and people in town for a wedding, a burial or the December festivities. Many larger shortlets are duplexes or terraces, with bedrooms upstairs and living space downstairs.
Check these before you book:
- A BQ. Some homes have boys’ quarters, a small separate flat for a driver or a nanny. Ask whether it is included and whether it counts towards the guest limit.
- Parking. A bigger group often means more than one car. Ask how many cars fit inside the compound.
- Stairs. If an older relative is coming, look for a bedroom on the ground floor.
- Backup power. Three or four air conditioners need a bigger generator or inverter.
- House rules. Estates often have rules on noise, visitors and parties. Read them before you plan a gathering.
Browse 3 bedroom shortlets in Ikeja, or read our guide to booking a shortlet duplex for a group.
Guest limits
Every host decides how many people the home can take. The limit protects the furniture, the water supply, the neighbours and you. Count everyone who will sleep there, children and babies included.
- Do not squeeze in extra people. Estate security may count who goes in, and the host can refuse entry to people who are not on the booking.
- Visitors are not guests. A friend who comes for dinner is a visitor. Check the house rules on visitors, and on anyone staying overnight.
- Ask about extra beds early. A cot or a mattress is easy to arrange before you arrive, and hard at 10 at night.
- Parties need a yes in writing. A birthday or a small gathering is a different request from a stay. Ask the host first.
Choosing guests when you book on Cabans
When a shortlet takes bookings online, the booking box has a “Guests” line with − and + buttons. Under it you see the host’s limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”. If the host has set no limit, it says “Everyone staying, children included”.
You cannot book for more people than the host allows. If you try, you see a message such as “This property takes up to 4 guests.” The number of guests does not change the price: you pay for the home and your dates, not for each person.
Pick your dates and the “Price Breakdown” shows the nights, any discount, the “Cleaning fee”, the “Caution deposit (refundable)” and the “Total”. You pay online through Paystack. Paystack’s payment fee is added and shown before you pay, and it is not refunded. Our help guide shows how to check dates and the price for a stay.
Price per person, worked out
A bigger shortlet costs more per night, but it may cost less per person. The only fair way to compare is the full bill for each person for each night.
- Get the full total for your dates: the nights, less any discount, plus any cleaning fee.
- Divide by the number of nights. That gives the real cost of one night.
- Divide by the number of people. That gives the cost for each person, each night.
- Add the deposit separately. The caution deposit comes back after you leave if nothing is damaged. But you need the money up front, so the group must plan for it.
Here is how the choice often plays out for four friends, without any prices:
- Two 1 bedroom flats means two night prices, two cleaning fees and two caution deposits.
- One 2 bedroom flat means one night price, one cleaning fee and one caution deposit.
If the 2 bedroom’s night price is lower than two 1 bedroom night prices added together, it wins. It usually wins by more than it first looks, because you pay one set of fees. The two flats win only when you need two separate doors, or two different areas.
The same maths works for a family weighing a 2 bedroom against a 3 bedroom. Work out the cost per person, then ask whether the extra room is worth the difference to you.
To split the bill fairly, agree before you book. Some groups split evenly. Others ask the couple with the bigger room to pay a bit more. Put it in the group chat, so nobody is surprised later.
Find the right size near you
Search by the area first, then by size. The ride to where you need to be matters more than one extra room.
- Lagos: 1 bedroom in Lekki, 2 bedrooms in Victoria Island, 3 bedrooms in Ikeja.
- Abuja: 1 bedroom in Wuse 2, 2 bedrooms in Gwarinpa, 3 bedrooms in Abuja.
Find a shortlet you can book and pick the size that fits your group.
Own a flat that would suit a family or a group? List your short let on Cabans.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can stay in a 2 bedroom shortlet?
A 2 bedroom shortlet usually suits about four adults, two in each room. Some hosts allow more with a sofa bed or an extra mattress, and some allow fewer. The host’s guest limit is the real answer, so check it on the listing before you book.
Is a studio the same as a 1 bedroom shortlet?
No. In a studio, the bed, the sitting area and usually the kitchen share one room. A 1 bedroom has a separate bedroom with a door. A studio suits one person or a couple on a short trip. A 1 bedroom gives you more privacy and space.
Do children count as guests in a shortlet?
Usually, yes. Count everyone who will sleep there, babies and children included, when you check the guest limit. If you need a cot or an extra bed for a child, ask the host before you book.
Is a bigger shortlet cheaper per person?
Often, but not always. One bigger flat means one cleaning fee and one caution deposit instead of two. Divide the full bill for each option by the number of people and the number of nights, then compare.
How do I find a 2 bedroom shortlet near me?
Start with the area you need to be in, then filter by size. Cabans has bedroom pages for each main area, such as 2 bedroom shortlets in Lekki or 3 bedroom shortlets in Ikeja. Check the ride to where you need to be each day.
Can I bring visitors to a shortlet?
Only if the house rules allow it. Many hosts and estates limit visitors, especially at night. Read the house rules first, and ask the host in writing if you plan to have people over.
Does the number of guests change the price on Cabans?
No. On Cabans the price is for the home and your dates, not for each person. You still choose the number of guests when you book, and you cannot go above the host’s limit. You pay online through Paystack. Paystack’s payment fee is added and shown before you pay, and it is not refunded.
Related guides
Shortlet duplex for a group · How much is a shortlet in Lagos? · What is a shortlet? · How long is a short let? · Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos
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