DIY Budget Ramadan Umrah 2024 – Tips and Savings Strategies

Ramadan Umrah 2024

Recently visited again Makkah for Umrah in Ramadan which is a big achievement for me. As I have already having the E-Visa for multiple entries and valid for 1 year. I booked the ticket directly from Amsterdam to Jeddah via low cost airlines(anadolujet) operated by Turkish Airlines in stopover at SAW Airport(Turkey).

This is a new and unique experience for me as I need to wear Ehraam before departing to Jeddah from SAW airport and facility at SAW airport is quite good. Mosque in SAW airport is equipped with separate place for wearing Ehraam. Lot of pilgrims are travelling from different routes around the world and it’s quite easy to find out everything at SAW airport.

This time it’s a short trip only for Makkah for perform Umrah rituals and return back to Amsterdam. Hotels are quite expensive due to Ramzan, I have chosen the hotel (Montana Al Aziziyah) at Aziziyah location however this location is quite far from HARAM and it’s not possible to walk between your hotel and HARAM.

All hotels at Aziziyah location are providing the shuttle bus service to certain point(JAMARAT) and from where you will need to catch the another govt bus assign specially to pilgrims during Ramadan season which drop you near HARAM with only walking for 300-500 steps.

I have chosen the breakfast option while hotel booking but surprisingly they are not providing any Suhoor option only Iftaar. Most of the hotels are following this rule only so you need to make your own arrangement for Suhoor. I didn’t find any issue on this as there are still Indian/Pakistani and Afghani hotels are there which open through out the night and provide the best quality of food with cheap rates.

My 3 days passed so far that I cannot imagine and it’s time to return as hotel checkout time is 12:00 Noon but I requested them to check out at 2:30 PM. Post check out I sit back to hotel and perform by ASAR SALAH at near by Mosque and then catch the Harmain Train from Makkah to Jeddah Airport.

Hotel Feedback

I have spent most of the time in HARAM only and my hotel room is only for night and Iftaar. I found room is quite neat and clean. Catering and Shuttle service is also good.
Internet is very bad it’s getting disconnected very frequently.

Flight Experience

As I said earlier, Anadolujet is a low cost airlines same as Aegan air so there is no full Meal option, this is now with with new name AJET You will get only a small Sandwitch and Water. as per my experience this sufficient as most of the time, I am fasting.

Flight is on time from AMS, SAW and Jeddah Airport.

There is also one more flight flypgs.com which is also fly on different routes of Europe and it’s also with the same pricing as above.

One Important thing – If you are travelling via Turkey SAW Airport route, make sure you carry the E-Visa with you otherwise they will not allow you to onboard the flight. I have seen several people stuck at SAW airport and convincing them that they will take Visa on Arrival but officers are not allowing the same. It’s better to keep the Saudi E-Visa in your hand before travelling via SAW(Sabiha Gokcen Airport) route.

Few Images for Recent Trip and you can imagine the pilgrims crowd, Mashallah –