A Blessed Journey on a Budget: My Experience with Cheap Umrah Packages

Like every Muslim, I had been dreaming of performing Umrah ever since I was a child. I used to hear anecdotes and stories about this sacred journey all the time. Resultantly, I used to daydream about embarking on this pilgrimage all the time. Finally, I managed to go. In this blog, I will mention some of the most important factors that shaped my pilgrimage. I booked my travel deal with one of the best travel agencies in the UK and it paid off. There is a common belief among Muslims across this country that only the highly rich people can perform Umrah. Truth be told, initially I was really skeptical as to how I will collect that big an amount for my pilgrimage. However, in this blog, I will tell you how I started looking up cheap Umrah packages, and how it helped me perform Umrah on a budget.

 Why I Chose a Budget Umrah Package

There were several reasons that made me choose a cheap Umrah deal. Obviously, I had some financial considerations and I had to take care of them. I had my daily expenses in mind, and had a whole time period to survive with a particular sum of savings. As a student living alone in London, I had to think about how I would survive the remaining year if I spent my entire savings on Umrah. One day, a friend told me how I can still perform Umrah even if I spend a smaller amount of money. If I talk honestly, I never knew anything like cheap Umrah packages or reasonable deals existed before that. She introduced me to Muslims Holy Travel and informed me of their exclusive offers on their all inclusive economy deals.

Ever since I had set my heart on performing Umrah, my priority had always been spiritual fulfilment. Honestly, I did not care about the kind of hotels I would get or whether I would rest amidst luxury or not. All I cared about was whether I would feel fulfilled and renewed after this journey or not. And this is exactly what I got on my journey. It was a trip filled with spirituality Allah’s (swt) blessings, and I could not be more grateful to Him for this.

How Did I Find the Right Package?

In all honesty, finding a good package for yourself that is also reasonable is not easy at all. I had to go through a long and extensive and thus painstaking process to find myself the right one. This is because you will literally find a travel agency everywhere. Most of the time, they are either lying about the prices or are scamming you thoroughly. You might also find agencies that do not offer transparency in their costs, and thus there are high chances that you will be asked for more money in the future.

The key factors that I personally considered before booking my package were price and value, of course. One other thing that I wanted at all costs was for my hotel to be close to the Haramain. It could be a 3-star or 4-star accommodation property but it had to be in close proximity to the sacred mosques. Another thing that I was substantially worried about was whether or not I would get help with my visa processing. That, I did. I also gave great weightage to whether I was going to get on-site transportation or if I had to arrange it myself. Long story short, everything worked out in the end.

My Preparation for the Journey

If I talk about my preparation for this journey, there will be a huge list of things. However, some aspects that I want to mention here are that I made my niyyah from the start of the pilgrimage that I was going to perform Umrah this year no matter what. This intention thing played a great part in my pilgrimage. Although I initially did not use to believe in such things, manifestation was indeed a very useful power. I learned my duas and my rituals and then did budget management, all on my own.

My Travel and Accommodation Experience

Now, the most important thing on the pilgrimage journey is hotels. When you think about the kind of hotel on your pilgrimage, you expect it to be flawless. You want it to be close to the Haram. I stayed at one of the best 4-star hotels in the heart of Makkah during the initial part of my Umrah. It was at a very short distance from the Holy Kaaba, but my travel package included shuttle service from the hotel to the Haram. So, there were no problems I faced here. In my hotel room, there were beautiful furnishings and a special space where I could pray. So, overall it was an experience of a lifetime. Then in Madinah as well, I stayed in a really good hotel that was not very far away from the Holy Prophet’s mosque.

My travel agency and my Umrah package did not disappoint me at all, at any point of the journey.

Performing Umrah on a Budget

So, I will just say here that performing Umrah on budget while not be as lavish as the one with deluxe packages. But, at the end of the day, it is spirituality that matters. You need to be determined and mentally grounded to perform Umrah. This is exactly what I did, and hence enjoyed a thoroughly enriching and soulful Umrah. Therefore, there is little need to listen to the people who keep discouraging you. Travel within your budget always, and see that a good travel agency can transform the whole experience for you.

The Lessons I Learnt

There was a lot that I learnt during my Umrah pilgrimage. I tried to apply these messages to my real life, and it helped a lot. Truth be told, I had never imagined Allah would be this merciful to me. I had such a remarkably soulful journey in a much lesser amount. After my Umrah, my pride in my faith swelled and my Iman strengthened so much that I have now become a much better Muslim. The simplicity and the humility with which I performed Umrah have completely changed me as a person. Thanks to my travel agency, I got to experience the most surreal feelings of my life, with care as well as convenience.

Some Tips for Future Budget Pilgrims

The tips I would want to mention here are that:

·         Always read the reviews and the general consensus on the travel agency you are booking with. Try your best to avoid the factors that can get you scammed.

·         You should not fantasize about big and grand hotels. Stay at economy options and go for the best one in your budget bracket.

·         Here is another advice: If you want to save on flights, do not opt for the direct routes. Choose an indirect flight and you will be good to go.

·         Make sure you have planned and organised your budget thoroughly. If there are any gaps, you will face possible chaos during your Umrah. This will not feel good at all.

Wrap Up

All in all, I had an extremely fine experience for my Umrah journey by choosing a reasonable package. If you are looking for cheap Umrah packages in the UK, I would recommend you to commence your journey with Muslims Holy Travel. Not only will you get a reasonable experience, but they will handle every aspect of your travel. You will enjoy an Umrah experience all the more serene and stress-free.

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