Set in the city’s highbrow area of Ikeja, 3 miles from Murtala Muhammed International airport and ten minutes from the commercial district of Allen Avenue, is the luxury boutique CitiHeight Hotel. It is also in the vicinity of several global hotel brands including Ibis, Sheraton and Radisson Blu. Having booked our holiday straight after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s July 19th announcement, my daughter and I took our first post COVID-19 international trip in search of some culturally relevant inspiration. Lagos was a great option as it is on the UK government’s amber list of countries and a destination where we could really get immersed in the culture. Our UK airport experience was hectic to say the least, and we arrived a day later than scheduled. Even the most-prepared traveller is advised to have two or three back-up plans in case of “incaseities”. I sent a quick email to the hotel, explaining the last minute change in plans and luckily for us, Banji, the hotel manager was very accommodating and sympathetic to our plight. Upon arrival, we were treated like VIP’s by the polite and friendly hotel staff who took our luggage and escorted us to our room on the 6th floor. Prior to our travel, we had made reservations through booking.com and in response to our welcome email, we made a special request for “a high floor with a birds eye view”. While our preference was peace and privacy, we anticipated endless trips down to the restaurant and bar. Our executive room was pretty much like the photos on the website. Palatial, lustrous and spacious, featuring a plush king size bed with bespoke bedside cabinets and an inviting lounge area. Alongside the usual amenities, there was the obligatory hand sanitizer, but I couldn’t help but notice the bold and intriguing artwork decorating the walls. What a fantastic way to showcase emerging as well as established artists. CitiHeight is a luxury boutique hotel, on par with international standards, and I would go as far as calling it an ‘art hotel’ considering the vast art collection and attention to visual aesthetics. The allure for me was the authentic art pieces dotted throughout the hotel. From the hotel entrance, to the lobby, restaurant, and on every floor. I saw choice object d’art pieces that fused local elements of traditional art within the luxury architecture, giving the hotel a sense of high-end opulence fused with contemporary cool. I began to envisage a ‘classic meets contemporary’ theme for a photo shoot. Tip: Take some Instagrammable shots around the hotel (Do not touch artwork). Pool Life: When it comes to ‘pool life’ at CitiHeight, just grab a sunbed and relax. Although the pool lacks an outside view, poolside was a popular hangout for my daughter and her friends. Since it had a private/secret garden feel that was ideal for swimming, sipping cocktails and soaking up the sun during the day. The pool was also a perfect place for a social distancing party by night. Just beside the pool is the m
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