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5 tips on finding cheap accommodation in Lagos

No matter where you travel to, one thing is certain, you need a roof over your head each night. Accommodation is one of the fixed costs on every traveler’s list, and no matter what your lodging tastes may be, one thing everyone has in common is that no one wants to pay a fortune for it.

Whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, or as a family, and you are traveling either short term or long term, with the unstable price of fuel and airfare on the rise, you might want to save money on every aspect of your trip to Lagos. Luckily, Lagos has a lot of accommodation options to suit a wide range of needs, tastes, and budgets andJovago.com, Africa’s No.1 online hotel booking service has suggestions on alternative ways travelers can find a decent place to stay in Lagos, without forking over their entire travel fund.

Squatting

Squatting is a popular way of saving money on trips, especially if you are travelling solo. The process simply involves living on a property owned by someone else with or without their permission.

The most commonly done in Nigeria is living on a property owned by someone else with permission. You connect to a friend, relative or acquaintance who lives at your destination and arrange to stay on their property or with them for the period of your trip. Squatting without permission on the other hand implies staying on someone’s property without their permission –uncompleted buildings, abandoned houses and structures or even setting up camp on a location owned by someone else without taking due permission. You would be surprised how many people do it despite the fact that it might be considered legal in Lagos. Basically, it costs you nothing at the end of the day and totally cuts out lodging expenses.

Public Places

If you are planning a one-day trip or have booked an early flight or bus and do not see the need to pay for a hotel room, it makes more sense to just sleep in the terminal. As long as you have purchased a ticket, look relatively clean and your luggage is organized you probably won’t be bothered by security.

Airports and bus terminals in Lagos have bathrooms, and restaurants which are usually open all night.  All you need to do is pack earplugs, an eye-mask, water, and something warm, then go early to the terminal so as to stake out a good spot early, before others start looking. You also need to secure your valuables to yourself.

Overnight Transportation

The night bus is a popular mode of transportation here in Nigeria as the fare is cheaper than flights, the journey is faster and you can cut out hotel bills for one day.

While sleeping on planes, buses, or even boats takes some getting used to, it offers a chance to wake up refreshed and ready to explore your new surroundings. Most importantly, it is a wonderful way to save some money on accommodation costs.

Before you go ahead with this choice, ensure you choose a seat with a lot of legroom, secure your valuables and befriend a neighbor so they can wake you before your stop.

Church Housing

Most travelers do not consider this, but churches as well as monasteries in Lagos offer accommodation to travelers either for free or at a token if they make the request.

Accommodation in these places are often very spartan, containing no more than a bed and desk, with simple meals prepared by the the church staff. The lodges are however very family-friendly and quiet although they usually have a lot of rules and curfews. While many of these rooms start from N 3,000 a night per person, most simply ask for donations or are free, making them an amazing budget option too.

Local home stay

This usually works best if you are interested in learning more about the culture of people in Lagos.

With this arrangement, you get free accommodation by staying with a local who gives you a free place to rest your head, local information, and someone to hang out with. Usually this arrangement is easier when you have an agent helping out with your travel procedures or it is arranged by an organization or school, however, there are a few websites who offer this service; including OLX.

To get a place to stay, put up an ad on any of the e-commerce websites and before long  responses from locals willing to put you up will come your way. Local homestay might be challenging, but it’s also very rewarding.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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