Some tips to keep in mind when visiting Lagos Nigeria
Nigeria has re-opened for international flights after the Covid-19 lockdown, and this is a great development for people planning to visit or leave the country. If you fall into the former category and are planning to visit the country, especially Lagos State, here are some helpful tips to make your experience great. Even if you have visited Lagos in the past, or have spent most of your life here, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded of what to pay attention to.
1. Transportation
There are a lot of transportation options; molue, keke (rickshaw), motorcycle, ride-hailing services (Uber, Bolt etc) and more.
At the airport, there are airport taxis with drivers who will eagerly call out to you and even try to help you with your luggage. However, more often than not, they try to rip you off!
The ride-hailing services might be the better option for you, considering almost everything is automated. You have an estimate of what your trip will cost, how far away the driver is, and how far away from your destination you are during the ride. Also, there is a higher chance of the driver acting right knowing you could give a bad review or even create bad publicity for the company.
Depending on your location, places you want to go to, your budget, and what’s more convenient for your needs, you could also consider other transportation options.
2. Lagos traffic
Include Lagos traffic in your plans because you are in its plans.
Always always make plans for the traffic. A trip that should take minutes can take hours because of the traffic.
You should leave well ahead of the time you plan to be at your destination. During the weekdays, it’s best to avoid the morning and evening rush hours. This is when the traffic is heaviest. It's the reverse on Saturdays as the traffic becomes heavy in the period in between the morning and evening. Thankfully Sundays are usually very free of traffic.
3. Make plans before leaving
Street smartness is very important in Lagos.
With the city's busyness, overpopulation and energetic inhabitants, it can be overwhelming.
Have a clear plan of what you want to do before leaving. Where are you going? How are you getting there? How are you making payments? Is your wallet or purse buried in your bag, or is it someplace safe but still easily assessable? What routes are you taking?
If you are taking public transportation, you may need to make a lot of stops before you get to your destination. Plan all of that before you begin your journey.
Everything may not go exactly as planned, but that’s better than acting clueless and lost in the middle of one of the cities in the world.
4. You need cash
It would help if you always had some cash, especially loose change. Yes you can make payment with through POS terminals with your debit card in most places but sometimes the POS terminals may be down due poor cellular network; and some businesses accept only cash.
You may also need to make a quick unplanned expense.
Having some cash will always make everything smoother.
5. Ordering online vs offline
There are a lot of vendors on social media. The images of their product are so good, you’ll want to order the whole store.
However, be mindful that sometimes, what you order is not what you'll get.
Check for reviews.
Check the comment section and read what people are saying.
Check how active the page is.
Even then, you can still get something different from what you ordered. Try your best to pay from vendors that look most reliable, keep your fingers crossed and your expectations not too high. The best way to avoid this is by buying in person. But, this may not be very convenient.
However, I must add here that there are some excellent vendors out here in Lagos who always aim to surpass expectations. So always check for reviews or go by recommendations.
6. Fully furnished apartments
Your accommodation goes a long way in determining how much you enjoy your stay. No matter how much you prepare, no matter what plans you have, if you have crappy accommodation, your entire experience will be ruined!
GidiStays' fully furnished apartments guarantee you'll have the best experience. They are furnished and designed with your utmost comfort in mind. They are in central locations, and there is enough space to make you feel at home.
There are different accommodation spaces so you can choose which best suits your needs.
If you prefer to cook your own food, the kitchen has everything you need! There’s 24/7 power, full DSTV and Netflix, etc. Also, you get recommendations to the best restaurants, gyms, bars, etc. You do not have to be the lab rat, you get the best service!
It also helps that it’s affordable and ordering for more extended periods are discounted!
You only need to pick the apartment of your choice, and book!
Have a great time in Lagos!