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I used to think that affordable luxury in Nigeria was just a marketing gimmick, an attempt to make budget travel sound more upscale than it really was. I’ve since learned how to get more mileage out of my money when sightseeing in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, and I’m willing to share my experience to help you make the most out of your own Nigerian getaway.
To begin with, you should know that Nigerian cities don’t have to mean choosing between cheap and uncomfortable or expensive and comfortable because there really is an option that falls somewhere in between. And you don’t have to be among the top 10 richest Nigerians to be comfortable.
Here’s why I believe cheap luxury in Nigeria is worth pursuing and how I choose between my options when budgeting for a local city break:
Why Cheap Luxury in Nigeria Is Not a Farce
The phrase “affordable luxury” in Nigeria may suggest five-star hotels and first-class planes, but I don’t think that’s necessarily what it means when it comes to local destinations. Cheap luxury in Nigeria, to me, is about choosing wisely and making the most out of my money by picking out the best value options, even if your name is not listed among the profiles of Nigeria’s most influential CEOs. It’s about staying in a serviced apartment with a pool and fast WiFi, rather than a standard hotel, and treating myself to a meal out in Lagos or Abuja every now and then to balance things out. It’s about using ride hailing apps to get from place to place, rather than danfo, when I’m short on time.
Day-to-day expenses in Nigeria fall within a range that lets me treat myself to something special on a shoestring budget, and I think that’s what we all should strive for when it comes to affordable luxury in Nigeria.
My Budget Tips for Affordable Luxury in Nigeria, City by City
Lagos
I tested out the concept on Lagos and realized that I could stretch my money by booking serviced apartments in Lekki or Victoria Island, rather than standard hotels, and still have some money left over for a nice meal out. In fact, I’ve learned to separate my “going out” budget from my general one, so I can enjoy a special night out without it affecting my day-to-day spending.
If you want to get a sense of what luxury accommodation in Lagos has to offer and how it stacks up against other Nigerian cities, this post, comparing luxury hotels in Nigeria was really helpful to me prior to making any actual bookings.
Abuja
Abuja seems to be the most straightforward of the three big cities when it comes to budgeting, in my experience. I save a bit of money by booking hotels in Maitama or Wuse and treat myself to better food and the occasional inexpensive activity like exploring the gardens around Aso Rock. I also find that the best time to visit is during the off peak season, as hotel rates really start to drop during this time of year.
Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt offers some much needed variety when it comes to affordable luxury in Nigeria because I can afford to do more things there without breaking the bank. I find that a mix of dining by the water, a mid range hotel stay, and one special activity per visit let me get the most out of my spending. It also seems to provide better value for money than Lagos in terms of hotels, which was a nice surprise.
The Small Ways I Get More Value for My Money When Visiting Nigerian Cities
I’ve picked up a few tricks over the years that let me get more for my money when I’m sightseeing in Nigeria:
I always try to stay just outside of the city center if possible, as a decently priced apartment stay can really add up when you factor in meals and other expenses. These days, it’s not that hard to get around thanks to ride hailing apps. As for food, I enjoy local street food and bukas and save my bigger food budget for one nice meal out per week. Finally, I try to time my visits to Nigerian cities to coincide with lower prices, which tend to appear more frequently in the off peak season for visiting.
I think it’s important to understand that affordable luxury in Nigeria doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort wherever you can find it in order to save money. I still look for well rated accommodation, spend money on reliable transportation, and save some cash for unexpected expenses in Nigerian cities, just because everything can be so unpredictable there. What I don’t do is overpay for something more upscale when it’s not really necessary, since many restaurants and upscale lounges in Lagos and Abuja seem to charge far too much for their services. I’d recommend looking for reviews online or asking more seasoned travelers for advice before you spend a lot of money on one particularly expensive establishment, as an unwise choice in this area can really hurt your travel budget. This Nigeria travel guide on costs and things to do was really helpful to me in terms of understanding how much everything actually costs and getting a feel for what constitutes reasonable value for money in Nigerian cities.
What I Don’t Consider to Be Affordable Luxury in Nigeria
As someone who’s really into traveling on a budget, I know that affordable luxury in Nigeria doesn’t mean cutting corners when it comes to something as important as personal safety. For this reason, I tend to stick to well rated accommodations and reliable forms of transportation whenever possible, rather than going for the cheapest options available, just to save a few hundred naira. I also have a little emergency fund that lets me splurge on something special if I want to, when I’m sightseeing in Nigerian cities.
My biggest pet peeve when it comes to affordable luxury in Nigeria is having to overpay for something just because it looks nice on the outside. Most upscale restaurants and lounges in Lagos and Abuja charge far too much for the experience they provide, in my opinion, so I always ask people who’ve been there prior if somewhere is worth the money before I spend it on a full meal and drink there. This guide on Nigeria’s costs and budget tips really helped me get an idea of reasonable prices for things like accommodation and food in local Nigerian cities, which in turn made it easier for me to determine what constituted reasonable value for money in these areas.
My Final Thoughts on Affordable Luxury in Nigeria
I hope what I’ve written about affordable luxury in Nigeria gives you food for thought for your own Nigerian city break. I think a lot of people get caught up in the idea that cheap luxury is all about finding the absolute cheapest option wherever they go, but I personally believe it’s more about choosing wisely and making the most out of the money you spend in each destination.
This could mean allocating more money to something like a hotel stay in Lagos or a meal out in Abuja and saving money in other areas, or it could mean doing the opposite when you’re sightseeing in Port Harcourt. It’s all about figuring out what matters most to you when you’re traveling on a budget and making the most out of your spending in each city.
