JournalMost complaints about Umrah operators in Nigeria are not about fraud. They are about vagueness — a package sold on a star rating and a total, with everything that matters left unstated until the traveller is already in Makkah.
Before you transfer money to anyone, including us, ask for these five things in writing.
The hotel name, not the star rating. "Five-star Makkah hotel" is not a commitment. A hotel name is. Star ratings in Makkah correlate poorly with the only thing that actually affects your trip: how far you walk to the Haram at 3am. Ask for the property name and check it on a map yourself.
The distance, measured on foot. Operators quote distance in metres from the Haram boundary, which can mean a twenty-minute walk once you account for the barriers and crossings. Ask how long the walk takes, not how far it is.
What the price excludes. Every package excludes something. Passport renewal, yellow card, hadyu, excess baggage and personal shopping are the usual ones. A package that claims to exclude nothing has not been costed honestly.
The payment schedule and the refund position. You should know the deposit, the date each subsequent payment falls due, and precisely what happens to your money if you cancel before and after visa filing. These are different amounts and any operator who cannot separate them is not tracking your money properly.
Who is on the ground with you. Ask how many pilgrims each group leader is responsible for, and whether that leader travels on your flight. The answer tells you more about how your trip will go than the hotel does.
If an operator will not put these in writing, that is your answer.
