Hajjandumraexpress reviews

1580843992

Mister Adot

google

3

My name is Abdullah. I went to Istanbul, Madina and Makkah through Travel Express from 16th January to 26th January 2019. 3 stars is an overall rating. What prevented my rating being 4 or 5 stars was mainly due to Travel Express HQ and not my tour leader: Brother Mahdi El Abdalla. I shall start with some NEGATIVE aspects: When handling my calls, I felt that staff wanted to get off the phone promptly without giving me assuring answers to my questions I did not get regular updates on the progress of my booking including my Saudi visa application until relatively very shortly before my actual trip e.g. itinerary was only sent a day before. A lack of communication between my trip being booked and the day of the trip was worrying to my Mother and me. It was not obvious who I had to meet at Stanstead Airport. My tour leader and fellow group participant were not wearing any Travel Express merchandise or any unifying colour to identify themselves. Malaysian Umrah groups seem to have the right idea as they generally wore something distinguishable. It was annoying staying on the top floor of Hilton Double Tree in Makkah especially when other people from other floors needed to use the lift as it took relatively long to get downstairs. There were construction works outside my room which did not help me sleep. I had to stay with 2 people in Madina, even though I paid to stay with one person. Having an Urdu speaking guide on 1 of the days in Istanbul felt alienating and frustrating. Brother Mahdi requested on behalf of himself and me that this guide speak to us is English. I know most of the group spoke Urdu, but my trip was booked with the expectation that English would be spoken since we I am English. Our time in Madina got cut short by a day which annoyed at least one group member. It was tiring enough to travel between multiple cities by coach and plane, so I also wished my group got to stay 1 more day in Madina with 1 less day in Makkah. I wanted to end on a good note, so here are some POSITIVE aspects: The tour leader Mahdi El Abdalla was good for several reasons including, but limit to him being knowledgeable, friendly, upbeat, engaging, caring and treating me and others with dignity. Brother Mahdi's knowledge about places we visited brought significance to the places we saw. I was not looking at any mountain, I was looking at Mount Thawr where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Abu Bakr took refuge from the Quraish who were trying to capture them. If I felt too tired to go on a day trip with the group Brother Mahdi did not pressure me into going. However, if he thought I should join the group he would inform of the religious significance of a place. Also, he allowed a couple to perform Umrah the next day after the main group whilst advising them that they stay in a state of ihram. This couple often held each other's hands, so it might have not been very easy to act on any desires they had for 1 another. I hope Allah rewards their Umrah and chastity. Brother Mahdi reminded me regularly to say Alhamdulillah when answering the question 'How are you?'. He reasoned that if I'm having troubles Allah would compensate by reducing my sins, but if my life was going well then it is a blessing from Allah which I should be happy with. Even though I said I could share a room with other 1 person, I got to stay by myself in Istanbul and Makkah. I certainly had enough to eat in each place I stayed. I was impressed with my accommodation. It felt like luxury including the bathroom which is very important to me. There was a free and frequent shuttle bus service to Makkah Haram which help compensate staying on the top floor at Hilton Double Tree. WhatsApp. Although I would've preferred Telegram, I'm glad there was a forum in which I could send and receive updates. Through WhatsApp, our guide Brother Mahdi told the men in the group where and when we would meet to go Fajr salah together in Istanbul. Without WhatsApp, I may have still been lost in Istanbul.

1654551841

Inayat Khan

google

Alhamdulilah we are ATOL protected and have always been. Alhamdulilah we are happy to hear that you had a great Umrah trip with us and your kind words are appreciated. Please email [email protected] regarding your refund. Jazakallahu khayr

1655459066

1

My experience of using travel express is great as they are one of the best travel agent for hajj and umrah . I am still waiting for my refund. ATOL have confirmed that hajj and umrah express had cancelled their ATOL licence during covid and have not renewed it. Your hajj and umrah package is not ATOL protected .

1645473012

Tanveer Aslam

google

5

Alhamdulillah it is an excellent tour set up by Sheikh Mehdi, may Allah SWT help him along his way in giving duaa. A man full of knowledge who does not shy away from sharing it. Allah SWT tested us on this tour and with the guidance of the Sheikh Alhamdulillah everything went smoothly, we completed our Umrah and carried on with our tour. Sheikh Mehdi took us to place of significance to our prophet Mohammad SWS. Taif bing the first and in Makkah and Badr in Madina and also other locations both in Makkah and Madina. It was not only going to these locations that meant a lot it was also the information Sheikh Mehdi shared with us that gave us great insight of what our Prophet Mohammad SWS had to endure to spread Allah SWT message. I will definitely be going again with the sheikh when ever Allah SWT gives me the opportunity.

1661722935

Ism A

google

5

Mashallah what a wonderful experience for me and my family

1556647809

missy haque

google

3

Decent 3 masjid tour with high and lows. Amazing sites and the spiritual element is beyond words. The downsides were that there was a bit too much mixing of non mahrams and group members taking and sharing pictures of others without permission.