Umrah is often touted as a costly worship. However, this isn’t always the case. If you are smart and ready to compromise a bit, you can perform Umrah on a tight budget. But this requires some effort on your end, as you have to find yourself Cheap Umrah Packages that are as per your pocket. This is easier said than done, as not everyone is able to find such deals, especially the first-timers. But there’s a couple of good news as well. Firstly, GBP has more value than SAR, so you’ll give fewer pounds and get more riyals. Secondly, this guide is here to help you find the perfect Umrah packages from UK as per your budget and preferences.
How to Plan an Umrah on a Budget with All the Essential Amenities?
Booking Flights on a Budget
Flights comprise a considerable size of the budget of all trips that include flying. Whether you are going for an international trip or a domestic one, you can save hugely on flights if you plan strategically. The best and more reliable way to find a cheap Umrah flight is to book your tickets 2-3 months in advance before your departure date.
There are many tools and websites that can help you find a budget option for Umrah. Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Bookme are the best platforms to explore. Look for flights midweek to save more. Indirect flights are also great if you are running low on cash. They are longer than direct flights but help you a lot if you want to save more money.
Just a practical tip from our side: don’t forget to reset your browser’s cookies and search history if you search flights repeatedly.
Finding Cheap Hotels
Accommodation comes after flights. The hotel scene in Makkah and Madinah is quite grand, and there are hundreds of options in each city. The best thing is you can find exactly as per your budget and preferences. If you are planning an Umrah yourself, you need to find hotels completely on your own, and this can take a lot of time. For budget travelers, 3-star hotels are the best option. These places are usually located around 800-1500 meters away from the holy mosque in Makkah or can be farther away. However, they offer shuttle services, so accessing Masjid Al Haram isn’t much of an issue.
In Madinah, the hotels are usually located in the area encircling Masjid e Nabwi. So, you can easily find a place to stay as per your budget without getting too far from the mosque. One excellent tip to save money while booking hotels is to use online booking apps. There are some apps that offer impressive discounts on your first booking. You can use that to get a good deal for hotels.
If you are going on pilgrimage via Cheap Family Umrah Packages, make sure you check out the services provided by the hotels included in these plans. The hotels for family pilgrims must have wheelchair access (if needed), separate beds for kids, kid-friendly menus, and private bathrooms. These are the bare minimum facilities required by family pilgrims, so don’t forget to give them a double check.
On-Ground Transportation
Once you land in Riyadh or Madinah, you will need to move from the airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the mosque, and for ziyarats. Shuttle service is available from the hotel to mosques, so that’s not an issue. Pilgrims that want to perform a cheap Umrah can use public buses for transportation. You can also hire a taxi if you can afford it. Pilgrims on a budget must stay away from luxury transport options like HHR, executive sedans, or flights. Cheap Umrah packages UK often include airport-to-hotel transport in their packages. Other than that, you have to take care of everything on your own. If you are going on a group Umrah, book a transport for your group that accommodates all the members in one go. It can cut costs significantly.
Best Month for a Budget Umrah
The cost of doing Umrah varies greatly depending on the time of the year you travel. For example, Umrah is the most costly during the month of Ramadan, even if the weather is hot. However, in the next few years, Ramadan will fall in winter, so Umrah is going to be highly expensive. Budget pilgrims should also try not to plan their Umrah in November, December, January, and February, as the temperature falls during these months and the number of pilgrims increases. On the contrary, there are plenty of options for budget pilgrims as well. These are given below:
- Right after Hajj: The window right after Hajj is the perfect time to plan Umrah on a budget. The reason is that Makkah and Madinah are overcrowded due to Hajj pilgrims, but the influx of Umrah pilgrims is low. The hotels and airlines reduce their prices to attract more and more people to plan their Umrah. You can take advantage of this and book Umrah packages during this time.
- Summer Months: The mercury rises to 45°C in summer months. The months of July and August are particularly hot and humid. Hence, many people don’t plan their Umrah trips in these months. These months are a golden opportunity for solo pilgrims to go for Umrah without breaking the bank.
Don’t Eat at Fancy Restaurants
One reason many pilgrims end up overspending during their Umrah trip is eating at big places. You can find many places in both holy cities that sell highly tasty, hygienic, and fresh food at extremely low prices. You’ll have to explore them yourself. At a street food stall, you can get a highly fulfilling meal for only 15 SAR, while a typical high-end meal costs 100-150 SAR. The difference is huge. And don’t worry about the food quality; it is completely fine to eat there.
How to Find a Cheap Umrah Package?
- A DIY Umrah is a cost-effective option, but it is not always as easy to execute as it looks. This is why booking premade deals can be great for some people. Here are some tips to help you find the right package as per your budget.
- Get prices of Umrah deals from at least 6-8 tour operators. This lets you compare the different services included in different deals.
- Check that the tour agency you are considering is accredited by the British and Saudi authorities and they offer ATOL-protected and IATA-certified deals.
- Go through their reviews and ratings on different platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and others.
- Always bargain before booking and confirm that there are no hidden charges.
If you are looking for some exceptional Umrah packages at cheap prices, contact Muslims Holy Travel right now. They offer excellent deals at affordable prices along with all the essential amenities.
