Arranging Umrah hotels near the Haram is as important as booking Umrah. While looking for London Umrah packages, pilgrims tend to look into flight and visa first, and then find a hotel. This means that they are usually disappointed when they reach the hotel and discover that it is actually 20 minutes away from Masjid al-Haram, instead of two.

With such an active and physically demanding trip, the right hotel can make all the difference in the world when it comes to prayer attendance as well as rest.

The Location of a Hotel Can Make All the Difference in the World

The distance from the Haram has an impact on the amount of walking, waiting or resting performed instead of worship. Located within walking distance of the worshippers to the hotel, it is extremely beneficial for pilgrims who perform five prayers a day, especially when they perform Tawaf, or during the more crowded prayer periods when it takes longer to get to and from the mosque.

Makkah Hotels Are Normally Rated Based on Their Location

Central zone (0-500 metres), includes towers such as Clock Towers and other buildings nearby that have direct Haram views.

When you're further away, out of the city centre, 1-3 kilometres, then you'll find Aziziyah and Misfalah, which are cheaper but will only be accessible by taxis or shuttle buses.

This is an outer Makkah area that is affordable, but provides a 20–40-minute daily commute.

The same applies to Madinah, as the hotels in the Central area are very near to the Masjid an-Nabawi, while the ones on the outskirts are only a short taxi ride away.

The Influence of Distance on Daily Routine

During Ramadan or during the peak of the season, the mosque is full of people hours before the prayer time; in such a situation, the most important point to keep in mind when selecting an affordable Umrah package is the hotel's location within the Haram.  A pilgrim needs to be able to go home for rest in a hotel 5 minutes away from the mosque. It is a dilemma that hotels out of town must deal with: remain at the mosque during prayer times or incur the time penalty of commuting between the mosque and hotel. This is especially true of older travellers and anyone with mobility issues.

Measure of Actual Comfort Compared to Star Rating

A five-star rating in Makkah is not always equivalent to five-star ratings elsewhere. In Saudi Arabia, star ratings are based on local systems, with a "4-star" hotel that could provide rooms with fewer facilities, or smaller rooms than a UK hotel rated at the same level.

Seeking guidance from stars is not the only thing to check; look at these:

• During the summer months, when travelling to the Umrah, reliability is crucial with regard to the air conditioning.

• Frequency of housekeeping, as some budget hotels only clean rooms after the weekend or every few days

• During busy periods in the tower, it is a real problem to find a good lift or waiting time.

Reading, Reviewing, and the Right Way

Newer reviews are more significant than total scores. The state of a hotel may vary considerably in a year, either by renovations, change of ownership or by being overcrowded during the summer. Pilgrims should check reviews for the same period as they are planning their trip, as a hotel's performance during the peak season could be different during low season.

Matching the Hotel to the Type of Trip

Umrah packages from London vary widely because pilgrims travel for different reasons and with different needs.

If available, elderly pilgrims should make sure to choose rooms on the ground floor or low floor of the tower, as getting to the floors can cause unnecessary strain while there is a waiting list.

Makkah and Madinah: Other Thoughts

The price change for Makkah hotels is greater than that of Madinah hotels, which is due to the Hajj season, Ramadan and the overall demand around the Haram. Unlike Madinah, the hotel market is not so consistent in the Central Area, which is smaller and less crowded.

Pilgrims booking Umrah deals from London should expect Makkah accommodation to cost noticeably more per night than equivalent Madinah stays, particularly for rooms with Haram views.

Working With a London Umrah Travel Agency

A London Umrah travel agency that has existing connections with the hotels in Saudi Arabia can confirm many things which are not always accurate on the websites, such as the hotel's renovation progress, the actual distance to walk, hotel acceptance of large groups, etc. 

Saudi Tours also deals directly with hotel partners and can tell you about the accommodations before you book, eliminating a lot of the uncertainty that comes with settling for one of two rooms that cost about the same.

FAQs

Q1:What is the distance from the Haram of my hotel in which I am staying for performing Umrah? 

Ideally within 500 metres for easy access between prayers, particularly during Ramadan or during busy times. Hotels further away will save money but will increase the travel time.

Q2: Which is more expensive, Makkah or Madinah?

Yes, generally hotels near Haram in Makkah are more expensive, especially during the season of Ramadan and Hajj, while the price of hotels near Haram in Madinah remains more stable throughout the year.

Q3: What hotel can I find for my group with Saudi Tours?

Yes, Saudi Tours collaborates directly with hotel partners in Makkah and Madinah and can offer you the best match accommodation according to the size of your group, budget and travel dates before you make your booking.