Over the past decade and more, travelling to Hajj from UK and other parts of the globe has seen large amount of growth. Call it a ritual obligation observed by the Muslim brethren or fulfilling one of the tenets laid down by Islam, a mandate for every devout Muslim to perform Hajj for at least once in their whole life, the Hajj industry has seen a lot of growth in the recent past. Many travel to Hajj with various desires and intentions, spiritually inclined. And if a devout self-respecting Muslim man or woman is given an opportunity to visit the holy cities of mecca and medina, they would never let that go. This is a divine obligation which helps connect the human soul to the call of almighty Allah. Hence, when taking a look around to shop for one of the best Hajj Packages, there are important points to consider.
Do research the options in front of you
Research and homework on the choice of packages or even the travel operator you choose to use should be done. It is not that simple as it sounds to be, but there are many who think that doing homework just a few months before Hajj would help them, WRONG!! One shouldn’t jump into taking the first package which claims to be cheap and fulfilling, take a look around and compare what others have to offer before you buy it.
You should have enough time in hand before you plan the departure, at least six months in advance. This would allow you to check every step and detail, so that you make the most important decisions in a well-informed way. If the choices and option or time is less, go right ahead and dedicate yourself to the most recommended package or operator, which has been referred to you by close family members or friends.
Check the credentials of the company or operator
We still don’t think this is important, but it in fact is. The company should be approved by the Saudi Arabian Ministry, and they should have an ATOL license (check ATOL online for more information). There would be many brick and mortar stores and online websites promising you a fulfilling Hajj tour and for cheap, we ask you not to fall for such gimmicks without checking the credentials of the company or operator.
- The company should be a registered one.
- The Ministry of Hajj needs to have the so called operators or companies registered with them.
- ATOL licensed, check CAA website for more information on such licenses.
- Walk into their physical office and check how professional they are.
- Does the website have a matching physical address?
- How convincing are they in answering your queries.
- Ask for references of clients they have served in the past.
- How long have they (the operator or the company) been operating Hajj tours and travels.
- What is their expertise and experience like?
- What value added services and benefits do they provide?
- Type of packages you could choose from.
- Payment plans, it should be payable to a company and not to an individual’s account.
Seek referrals and recommendations
When shopping around for hajj deals and packages online, ensure that you seek recommendations from close family, friends and even co-workers who have travelled to Hajj in the past. This would be one of the easiest ways for you to choose the right service providers. When you use recommendations from someone trustworthy, you are assured of being dealt with hands and minds that are able and experienced. This in turn would allow you to have a fulfilling experience, a divine Hajj tour.
We hope that the aforementioned tips would come in handy when you make an informed decision on choosing affordable Hajj tour Packages for 2014.
Author Bio
Rahim from M.Zahid Travel has been advising and guiding many Hajj travelers on how to choose the right Hajj Packages for more than a decade. Please check online to learn more from the well versed author, InshAllah may you have a nice fulfilling Hajj experience in 2014.
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