Detty December in Nigeria has always been a season of movement: airports buzzing, events fully booked, and city centres filled with returning diaspora and holiday seekers.
But this year, something seems to have shifted as the once-thriving shortlet apartment sector, especially in Lagos and Abuja, is losing its shine as travelers are in utter disbelief at the prices being charged for a night stay.
In response, many are quietly returning to hotels: a surprising reversal for a season that once made shortlets the preferred option for convenience, space, and affordability.
For some, the frustration has simmered for years, but the December price surge appears to have finally snapped their patience.
Lifestyle creator @Sisi_Yemmie captured the growing disillusionment when she said shortlet managers were already lamenting poor bookings. “Their greed is too much,” she added bluntly. “I’ve gone to book hotel jejely. I’d rather book 5 rooms in a hotel than deal with shortlet drama.”
Others say it’s not just about escaping the stress: hotels are simply giving better value. @emekagadi, puzzled by the hype around shortlets, pointed out that hotels often offer free breakfast and, in some cases, free lunch. “I don’t even understand why people prefer shortlets to a hotel…,” he wrote.
For some Nigerians, previous encounters with shortlets have been bad enough to swear them off entirely. @TonyAbah01 said several of his friends now refuse to consider Airbnb or any short-term rental after bitter Lagos experiences. This December, all 11 of them are lodged comfortably in hotels.
The grievances are not isolated. They spill across timelines and group chats. @AdisaAkomolede, who assists clients in booking shortlets, lamented how hosts have hiked prices to ridiculous levels. Rates that were once competitive now go for five times the original cost. Abuja residents have also noticed the downturn
For @KriscrisG, he revealed that many shortlet owners were abandoning the business altogether or switching to long-term leases because the market has become too overpriced to survive.
The sentiment is the same for those who simply want ease. @TuslowT put it plainly: “Shortlet get too much wahala.” And for @Humanxxx001, the avalanche of fees — cleaning charges, service charges, and “every stupid charge known to man” — makes hotels the only logical option.
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