Every religion on earth recognizes the spirituality of traveling. A number of those places are there which are significant and sacred for the people belongs to different religions of the world. People have been visiting such sacred and holy places since centuries to get the spiritual and moral base according to the respective faiths and beliefs. People connect themselves to the sacred and holy places with reference from their religion, the place might be the birth or death place of saints or the house of God.
Hajj Pilgrimage is one of the five most important elements of religion Islam, which is mandatory for every physically and financially able Muslim. It is a five days activity. Muslims from all over the world reaches Saudi Arabia and perform Hajj during 8th to 12th of the Islamic month, Zulhajj. Other than the residents of Saudi Arabia, millions of Muslims come from across the world to perform religious sacred activity. Coming from a distance, of course, would cost high. Whatever the financial status of a person is, he has to plan the budget for Hajj carefully. For the Hajj 2020, there are some budget tips which people can consider to minimize their traveling budget.
Check out the following tips for a splendid Hajj experience at a budget you can afford.
1. Search for the Best Hajj Packages Around
You should go for the Exclusive Hajj packages which include visa, transport, and accommodation to reduce the budget. If you are individual, try to get with the agency offering the groups to perform Hajj, that would cost the Pilgrim less than the cost of solo Hajj. Comparing the benefits and fares would lead you to the best decisions. A person may opt for the luxury packages on his demand if he is sure that he can manage the budget all along.
The important thing to remember is that the agency you are going to book your trip from should be approved by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
2. Flying on the Less Busy Times is an Ideal Option
It can be possible if you are traveling for Umrah. For Hajj you have to travel on the special days when all the Muslims from around the world reaches Saudi Arabia, and perform the rituals of Hajj all along. If it is Umrah, you can get to perform that any offseason of your choice.
3. Travel Costs in Saudi Arabia
You have to be updated about the easiest ways to move around in Saudi Arabia in the budget. Taxis and private cabs are okay to roam around the city but long distances like Mecca to Medina would add a lot of budgets. Especially, in a case when you have a big family and luggage more than the normal, you can go for private travel. In that way, the Hajj journey can be nominal for you.
4. Travel Alone or as A Group
It is a good idea to travel alone and booking for the common settlements, it saves the money and lessens the burden on the individual pilgrims. Sharing taxis and looking for the family suites in hotels would give you an idea of how much you can spend for the whole journey.
On the other hands, traveling with the children and your old parents would need more spending on comfortable transportation and living. They will shop and have healthy food to maintain good health. You will be planning all this according to your ease and comfort.
5. Comfort and High-quality Facilities in Budget
If a person wants to travel in a budget and demands the 5-star living comfort, it is still possible. How? You should book the trip in advance and can get the best packages of the time. You will understand that playing smartly, you can get the best facilities includes the nearest 5-star hotel having high-quality services to give, best air conditioning, and the meals which keep you healthy all the way. It’s better to get into searching and booking for the packages of your choice in advance so you can get the privileged facilities easier, and enjoy the Hajj experience even more.
6. Budget Shopping in Mecca
This should be a big concern! While in Mecca and Medina, you can shop and get things of your need, and the things to get back home for the loved ones. To estimate the expense by reading online content about this and practical advice of the friends there would benefit in a good way. The things you need might be Ihram cloth, toiletries like shaving cream, soap, skin creams, haircutting, and other things of little cost. You also need to know that the things you are bringing back home will be charged on airports as a custom or the luggage traveling fare.
7. Budget Food
It depends on a person’s choices! Top notch restaurants in Mecca are definitely costly. However, if it’s your choice, you will get many classes of foods and beverages there. For the budget food, eating together can be the best option. It is possible when a person is not traveling alone but with the family or group. If you are going with kids, the snacks and drinks factor is added by itself. Remember, during the Hajj, keep yourself hydrated, weather in Saudi Arabia is significantly hot.
8. Sacrifice Cost
Sacrifice is obligatory! If it’s included in a package, well. Otherwise, sacrifice cost is something must be considered early. Cost is also depending on the type of animal you are sacrificing. In Mecca, you will be given a coupon on paying, it will be in advance.
Conclusion
Hajj, an important duty and a lifetime opportunity for Muslims that needs to be budgeted efficiently. Managing and saving the money during the Hajj is good, it can save you from embarrassment and keep him/her relax to perform the holy duty with full concentration.
Saudi Arabia Contributor
Aafia Khalid, lives in Leeds, United Kingdom, and is originally from Egypt. She has a love for reading and writing about travel experiences, travel destinations, and the teaching of Islam.
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