InshAllah I am making an intention to go for Hajj with my wife this year. Most of my friends are telling me to start booking now.
I want to know which agent is the best from the US. I heard from a lot of people that their experience with the agent wasn’t good and this includes ADAM, MANARA travel etc.
Also, if some one knows of an Imam who takes a private group then let me know of that as well.
Also, a question for those in KSA or the Gulf:
How do I get a cell phone connection when I get there so that my children can call me from the states?
LAst time I went for Umrah, my phone was from Pakistan and I had it activated for KSA.
Also, a question for those in KSA or the Gulf:
How do I get a cell phone connection when I get there so that my children can call me from the states?
LAst time I went for Umrah, my phone was from Pakistan and I had it activated for KSA.
JAK
Mashallah, good to know that you are planning the blessed journey this year. My wife and I performed the Hajj last year and still have very positive memories of it.
Getting a cell phone connection is very easy. After you arrive at Jeddah airport and clear all the formalities (passport control, baggage collection, etc.) you will see several counters just outside the Hajj terminal building. They are set up by a company called Mobily, which is one of the mobile operators in Saudi Arabia.
For 50 Saudi Riyals you get a SIM-card that is preloaded with 75 Riyals worth of talk time. I got two SIMs when I arrived there, one for my wife and one for myself, which turned out to be very useful, especially when you perform some rites seperately. This is a "cheaper version" of a Mobily connection, because it is a temporary SIM that expires after 3 months, but for the purposes of Hajj, it is ideal.
Mashallah, good to know that you are planning the blessed journey this year. My wife and I performed the Hajj last year and still have very positive memories of it.
Getting a cell phone connection is very easy. After you arrive at Jeddah airport and clear all the formalities (passport control, baggage collection, etc.) you will see several counters just outside the Hajj terminal building. They are set up by a company called Mobily, which is one of the mobile operators in Saudi Arabia.
For 50 Saudi Riyals you get a SIM-card that is preloaded with 75 Riyals worth of talk time. I got two SIMs when I arrived there, one for my wife and one for myself, which turned out to be very useful, especially when you perform some rites seperately. This is a "cheaper version" of a Mobily connection, because it is a temporary SIM that expires after 3 months, but for the purposes of Hajj, it is ideal.
what about a cell phone? Would one need to bring a GSM phone with them, or are those available for cheap?
what about a cell phone? Would one need to bring a GSM phone with them, or are those available for cheap?
We had our own phones with us. I haven't seen any phone shops at Jeddah Airport, but there are quite a few in Mekkah. So if you don't want to take along your own phone you can get one easily, once you are in Mekkah. As I didn't need to buy one, I don't know about the prices of course.
Mashallah, good to know that you are planning the blessed journey this year. My wife and I performed the Hajj last year and still have very positive memories of it.
Getting a cell phone connection is very easy. After you arrive at Jeddah airport and clear all the formalities (passport control, baggage collection, etc.) you will see several counters just outside the Hajj terminal building. They are set up by a company called Mobily, which is one of the mobile operators in Saudi Arabia.
For 50 Saudi Riyals you get a SIM-card that is preloaded with 75 Riyals worth of talk time. I got two SIMs when I arrived there, one for my wife and one for myself, which turned out to be very useful, especially when you perform some rites seperately. This is a "cheaper version" of a Mobily connection, because it is a temporary SIM that expires after 3 months, but for the purposes of Hajj, it is ideal.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan Umer.
I knew of Mobiliy but when you get out of the immigration area, the attendants rush you out to the buses.
So how does a person stop and buy the SIM?
I guess I will have to use my broken arabi and say "abgha ishtaree SIM hagee cell phone" or something right?
I knew of Mobiliy but when you get out of the immigration area, the attendants rush you out to the buses.
So how does a person stop and buy the SIM?
I guess I will have to use my broken arabi and say "abgha ishtaree SIM hagee cell phone" or something right?
Your broken arabi is still better than my zero arabi. And don't worry about the attendants rushing you to the busses. After you get out of the immigration area you will still spend a couple of hours at the airport waiting while your Hajj organizers complete all the formalities (and there are lots of them to be completed).
We got out of the terminal around 9 PM and by the time we left the airport it was 2 AM.
The best group that I've heard of is Dar el Salam. My parents, as well as many of their friends have gone with them and they've always had good things to say about them.
The best group that I've heard of is Dar el Salam. My parents, as well as many of their friends have gone with them and they've always had good things to say about them.
I have seen several "Dar el Salam Canada/USA" busses during Hajj. They were mostly parked very close to the Haram.
I called them yesterday and they seem to be quite organized. However, they don’t have the packages for this year published yet. Still the guy claimed that they have reached 60% booking already
He wanted me to advance book online immediately with US 1500/- ea. to avoid missing the packages…
Seems like all agents in the US have jacked up prices…is this Halal…or are they taking advantage that Decemeber Hajj for last 3 years is attracting all these ppl..
