The decision to embark on a spiritual journey to Makkah and Madinah is exciting but planning the trip can often feel overwhelming.

There are countless hotels, travel options, and services to consider but finding the right arrangements for your Umrah pilgrimage doesn’t need to be difficult, according to the founder of LoveUmrah.com — a platform designed to make the process smooth and stress free.

Founded in 2018 by Muzirul Haque, who brings over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, the website primarily focuses on what the name suggests: Umrah travel.

“After the whole e-visa was introduced, Umrah has become very easy to book,” Haque told Islam Channel’s The Today Show.

“What we created is, in one transaction, you can book your entire ground service, which includes Makkah hotel, Madinah hotel, alongside your Umrah transfers,” he added.

The ability to handle the entire ground service in a single transaction eliminates the need to piece together multiple bookings from different sources.

And a major feature of the website is the ability to speak to one of its experts. “A lot of the time, with online booking portals, everything is online, there’s no one to talk to,” Haque explained.

“With us, we have live agents. If you’re searching online and you’re not 100% comfortable going through the booking, one message and we have a team of experts, well-versed within Makkah and Medina. They can guide you through it and do the booking.”

Personalised support and after-sales

The team prides itself on providing an “end-to-end” service, which includes a ground support team in Saudi Arabia and comprehensive after-sales support.

“Even when you complete your booking, any kind of assistance, any help, just one message and we’re there to help,” said Haque. “We’re all the way there, until you check out of your final destination.”

The platform is designed with travellers in mind. It has customisable filters, allowing users to select hotels based on specific preferences, such as proximity to the Haram, views, room type, or amenities like prayer spaces.

“Nowadays, a lot of people prefer a prayer space within the hotel area. That’s become really something we focus on,” added Haque.

LoveUmrah.com plans to expand its offerings with excursions and educational experiences, helping pilgrims explore the vast history of the holy cities. These can be added at the time of booking or arranged upon arrival.

“We’re creating a lot of excursions because nowadays you see families are going with their children. They’re spending a longer time there,” he said.

So, what advice does Muzirul have for those planning their first umrah trip?

“Do your research and book in advance — that’s when you get better prices,” he said.”If you’re going with your family, involve your children, take them through the process.

“And more importantly, if it’s for the first time, we always say contact us. We have a team of experts in our call centres. They can advise you on the right hotel within your budget, and help you with the booking.”

Visit LoveUmrah.com or follow them on social media to start planning your pilgrimage.

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