Comparing Umrah packages from Algeria: a checklist before you pay

Start by defining your needs

Write down the number of travellers, the suitable period, the preferred departure airport, the room type and the total budget. Add the needs that affect the decision, such as difficulty walking, travelling with children or the need for a private family room.

That way you can rule out an unsuitable programme early, instead of wasting time comparing a price that does not apply to your case.

1. Compare the price on one basis

Check whether the price is per person or per room, and which occupancy it is tied to. Ask about children's prices and any fees not listed in the advertisement. And ask for the price to be confirmed for your case, not a repeat of the same starting price.

Record prices in Algerian dinars (DZD), and add the cost of getting from your wilaya (province) to the departure airport and back. If you compare two programmes departing from Algiers and Oran, for example, check how that difference affects your family's budget and travel time.

See the guide to the cost of Umrah from Algeria if you want to calculate the total amount, including getting to the airport and the expenses that are not included.

2. Separate travel days from nights of stay

Ask for the departure and return dates and times, and the number of nights in Makkah and Madinah. A "15 days" headline alone does not show when you reach the hotel or how much time the transfers take.

If arrival is early, ask how check-in is arranged. If the return flight is late, ask about the hotel check-out time and how you will spend the time in between.

3. Review the flights and transfers

Compare the departure and arrival airports, the carrier and the total time. If there is a stopover, ask about its length, the baggage arrangements and assistance when needed.

Also confirm the transport from the airport to the hotel, between Makkah and Madinah, and to the return airport. Ask which parts are shared, which are private, and which service needs a separate payment.

4. Assess the hotel from the perspective of daily use

Start with the name, location and room type, then ask about the distance to a specific entrance of the Haram and the nature of the walking route. The distance figure alone does not reveal slopes or differences in the entry route.

If the hotel provides a shuttle, review the departure and arrival points, the times and whether the service is included. For anyone who needs mobility facilities, ask for confirmation of the room and entrance features; do not infer them from a general photo of the hotel.

5. Pin down the meals and services precisely

Ask about meals in each city, not just in the programme in general. Check their number, the days they are served, and whether the arrival or departure day is included.

Then ask for a list of additional services: accompaniment, visits, help with procedures and any optional activities. Record any unclear item as "needs confirmation" instead of treating it as included.

The comparison table you need

You do not need to fill in the table from the advertisement alone; use it to ask the questions the advertisement did not answer.

A worked example: why the price ranking can change

The following example is hypothetical and for illustration only; it does not represent real offers or market prices. Assume two per-person offers for the same duration and room type:

In this hypothesis, offer A is lower in the advertisement but 5,000 DZD higher after the listed items. The zero in offer B means we assumed the service is included, not that it is free in every programme. The table also does not include every possible personal expense.

The value of the example is the method: add what is missing first, then compare. And do not choose offer B automatically; review the quality and suitability of the services and make sure they are included in writing.

Do not let a tally of advantages hide an essential requirement

A programme may look good on most items yet fail an essential need, such as a suitable room or confirmed help with getting around. Put your essential requirements first, then compare prices among the programmes that meet them.

Before any payment, also verify the organiser using the steps to verify an Umrah agency. And remember that ONPO's requirements page lists signing the travel contract among the preparation steps. Source: National Office for Hajj and Umrah (external link, opens in a new tab).

Checklist before paying

Checklist: your ticks are not saved after leaving the page.

• I know the final price and whether it is per person.
• The room type and hotels are clear.
• The travel dates and the distribution of nights are set.
• Transport, meals and baggage are specified.
• I verified the body that will issue the contract.
• I read the payment, change and cancellation conditions.
• I got answers on the important unresolved points.

Frequently asked questions

After choosing the programme, use the Umrah file preparation list for Algerians to review the documents and steps with the party handling your application.

Browse the Umrah offers on Dalil Umrah, then use the table to ask the organiser for details. If you would like clarification about a published offer, you can contact Dalil Umrah.