Choosing the right Umrah travel agency is crucial. Although many travel agencies offer Hajj and Umrah services, they often vary in quality and price.
How to choose a travel agency for your Umrah or Hajj?
To make sure you choose the right agency to book your dream Hajj or Umrah packages 2022, check the reviews of pilgrims who have performed Umrah or Hajj with these agencies. You will find this feedback on each of the offers from each agency on Manassiq.com. The quality of service and the level of commitment to the well-being of pilgrims often vary considerably from one agency to another, so you will find many opinions and testimonials available on the Manassiq.com platform.
To help you choose the right travel agency for Umrah, you will find below a list of criteria allowing you to objectively assess the travel agencies for Umrah and the packages offered:
1 – Agency approved by the Ministry of Hajj:
For Hajj, only travel agencies registered with the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia are allowed to organize travel for Hajj. Sometimes other operators still organize the Hajj pilgrimage, in most cases, these are sub-agencies or sub-groups of these agencies, so they belong to them directly or indirectly. Authorized agencies for Hajj services can be found here.
For Umrah, there is no official list with the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia. To reassure you, however, you can check with the register of travel agencies in France.
There are a number of advantages to using an authorized agency rather than a sub-group or sub-agency:
Knowledge – Authorized agencies are more likely to be aware of the latest rules, regulations, and processes involved in the entire trip, including documentation, accommodation, food, and transportation requirements. This is less likely to be the case for sub-agencies and sub-groups.
Accountability – authorized agencies are accountable to the ministry of Hajj, so if a pilgrim wishes to file a complaint or is concerned about the agency, the authorized agency may be held accountable by the ministry. On the other hand, if the subagents or subgroups deliver a lackluster experience, there is not much a pilgrim can do as these agencies do not interact directly with the ministry.
Assistance – Authorized agencies may receive direct help from the ministry in the event of a problem in Saudi Arabia. This will not be the case with sub-agencies and sub-groups.
Recognition – Authorized organizations receive a four-digit license number from the ministry.
Cost – Licensed agencies are often less expensive than alternative options because subgroups buy services from licensed agencies and add their own markup, thereby increasing the price.
2 – The presence of a spiritual guide
Travel agencies often have a spiritual guide or someone knowledgeable in Umrah or Hajj. Its role is to act as a point of reference for pilgrims during Umrah or Hajj. Your guide will prove to be very important, especially in cases where an immediate response is required. Although studying books and lectures regarding Umrah and Hajj and its rites is extremely important, having an experienced guide on hand, especially for those who are practicing Umrah or Hajj for the first time, is invaluable. .
3 – The presence of a female guide
Likewise, consider whether a female guide will be available for pilgrims.
4 – The number of people per trip
The size of an agency is sometimes reassuring about the competence of an agency to accompany pilgrims on their journey to Mecca. The most relevant report would rather be to find out about the number of pilgrims per supervisor. This will give you an idea of the availability of the teams that will accompany you.
Thanks to Manassiq.com, you can notably find the size of the groups for each of the offers of Umrah and Hajj. You can also talk to the agency to find out about the number of accompanying persons. In particular, this will allow you to make reservations for your relatives and friends to perform Umrah or Hajj in a group.
5 – Feedback from the pilgrims
It is important to consult the opinions of previous pilgrims in order to judge the performance of the agencies. You will find them at the bottom of each offer in the “Reviews” section.
If you are looking for Cheap Umrah packages Almuslim Travel offers the carefully designed and Umrah Packages for the pilgrims departing from the United Kingdom. Being a trusted travel agency with over 40 years of experience, Almuslim Travel proudly commits to providing an exceptional and enriching traveling experience for the most spiritual enchantment “Hajj” & “Umrah“.
How to avoid fraudulent travel agencies for Umrah and Hajj?
Unfortunately, especially in recent years,
More people have been victims of Hajj and Umrah fraud. Fraud occurs when victims spend large sums of money to find out that the whole process is, in fact, a scam perpetrated by illegal travel agencies/tour operators who later disappeared with the money. In other cases, people who manage to make it to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah arrive only to find that the accommodation they have booked with the travel agency falls short of the mark. the agency promises or sometimes non-existent. Many people have suffered significant financial losses and in a number of cases have lost all of their life savings.
How does Umrah or Hajj fraud occur?
Potential pilgrims are normally drawn to packages that appear to be very good value for money at face value, with fraudsters advertising packages that are significantly cheaper than others. Packages are advertised in the local community, online, or even on TV channels. The fraudulent travel agent then asks the victims to pay for the package in cash or by wire transfer, either as a lump sum payment or in installments, with the promise that they will receive their tickets and documents closer to the date of departure. As the departure date draws closer, hopes of leaving are diminished as attempts to engage with the illegal travel agency are often unsuccessful.
How to avoid fraud for Umrah or Hajj?
There are a number of ways to protect yourself in order to avoid becoming a victim of Hajj or Umrah fraud:
1 – Search and compare on Manassiq.com
The agencies on the first comparison site for Hajj and Umrah are verified and approved. Extensive research is carried out by the Manassiq teams to ensure the reliability and solvency of the travel agency.
You can do this in several ways:
Consult the opinions and testimonials of the community on Manassiq.com. Don’t just rely on a single recommendation from a friend or family member.
Visit Manassiq.com to discuss with each agency and obtain more details.
2 – Do not pay in cash or by direct bank transfer
If a travel agent asks you to pay in cash or directly to a bank account via wire transfer, just don’t. The vast majority of legitimate businesses have debit and credit card facilities that will allow you to reverse a financial transaction through your bank if something goes wrong. If the payment is made in cash or by bank transfer, it will be extremely difficult to get your money back.
