Use these questions as a comparison checklist before paying a deposit. Get the important answers into the contract or a retained attachment. A useful offer turns promises into services you can verify, rather than asking you simply not to worry.

Use these questions as a comparison checklist before paying a deposit. Get the important answers into the contract or a retained attachment. A useful offer turns promises into services you can verify, rather than asking you simply not to worry.

Pre-contract information and consumer protections vary by market. These practical questions help travellers from Europe, the UK, Canada and the US establish exactly what they are buying and who is responsible.

Identity and responsibility

1. Which business signs the contract and receives payment?

Obtain its legal name, registration details where applicable, address, telephone number and responsible contact.

2. Which registration and financial protection apply to this booking?

Verify the relevant official record yourself: for example an ATOL holder for a protected UK booking, the relevant European regulator or applicable Canadian provincial register. Ask a US seller which state requirements apply.

3. Are you the organiser or a retailer?

If several companies are involved, have the contract identify their roles and the party responsible for delivery.

Flights and baggage

4. What are the flight numbers, times and airports?

Ask whether flights are direct, connecting or on separate tickets.

5. What baggage is included for each person?

Specify cabin and checked bags, dimensions, weight and the cost of additions.

6. Who assists if a flight is cancelled or a connection is missed?

Ask for an operational contact, not only the salesperson’s number, and clarify which costs are covered.

Hotels and rooms

7. What are the exact hotel names and addresses?

Check the real walking route to the mosques, slopes and the entrance you will use.

8. Which room type is guaranteed?

Double, triple or quadruple is not enough: ask about fixed beds, permitted occupancy and the bathroom.

9. What are the check-in and checkout dates and times?

An early arrival does not guarantee immediate room access; a late departure may require storage or another paid night.

10. What does “similar hotel” mean?

Define the replacement’s city, area, actual distance, standard, meals and room occupancy in writing.

11. Which meals are included?

Specify meals, times, drinks and arrangements during Ramadan or an early departure.

Transfers and guiding

12. Which transfers are included, from which point to which point?

List airport–hotel, Makkah–Madinah, station–hotel and return airport journeys.

13. Which vehicle and baggage rules apply?

Ask about capacity, wheelchairs, any needed child restraint and extra-baggage costs.

14. Where does the shuttle stop near the Haram?

An included shuttle may still leave a long walk. Request times, frequency and a map location.

15. Who accompanies the group, and when?

Ask for the name, language, group size, airport and ritual support, and availability outside scheduled activities.

Visa, Nusuk and health

16. Are you supplying visa assistance or including the application process in the package?

Separate official charges, insurance and service fees. No seller controls the authorities’ approval decision.

17. Who creates my Nusuk profile and handles permit arrangements?

Use official channels and establish who acts, which email address is used and how you retain access. An agency’s help should not leave you dependent on someone else’s password or identity.

18. Which passport and health requirements apply to my journey?

Ask for official sources for your nationality, circumstances and dates, then recheck before departure. Do not assume everyone in a group has identical requirements.

Price, changes and disputes

19. What is the final total and what else could I be charged?

Get taxes, fees, payment dates, options, currency and change charges in writing. Ask how any still-unknown costs will be calculated.

20. What happens if I, the agency, the airline or the hotel changes the trip?

Read cancellation charges, replacement terms, minimum group size, offered insurance, the complaint procedure and any applicable dispute-resolution scheme. Clarify whether different conditions apply to separate flights or other extras.

How to score the answers

Give each answer one of three labels: clear and written, incomplete, or missing. A promotional gift does not compensate for a missing answer about the visa route, seller’s identity or hotel.

Then check the offer against our agency-verification guide and the package-price breakdown. Keep the exact version of the offer and answers used when you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Should I get the answers in writing?

Yes. Essential terms should be in the contract or a retained attachment. An oral promise or disappearing message can be difficult to establish later.

Can I cancel an Umrah package after buying it online?

Do not assume online purchase creates a free cooling-off period. Read the cancellation rights, fees and exceptional-circumstances provisions applicable to your contract and jurisdiction before paying.

What if the agency refuses to name the hotel?

Do not rely on a vague category alone. Ask for the name, address, room type and replacement rule. Without them, you cannot properly evaluate the service.

Sources

• Your Europe — Package travel — EU package-travel rights and their scope.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority — Check an ATOL holder — Verify the holder for a booking claimed to be ATOL protected.
• Travel Industry Council of Ontario — Find a registered travel agency — Ontario travel retailer registration search.
• US Federal Trade Commission — Avoid scams when you travel — Travel-seller checks and warning signs.
• Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Umrah and Visit Guide — Official guidance on permits, travel and rituals.