What you need to know about Cell Phones during Hajj:

a. Types of Cell Phones: Saudi Arabia and most of the world uses GSM technology for their cell phone services. Most cell phone companies in the U.S. still use CDMA, some do use GSM. If you plan to take your cell phone to Hajj, make sure it is a GSM phone that works on 900/1800 MHz. Some people who do have a GSM phone still prefer to buy a cheaper phone for Hajj as not to lose their primary phone. You can buy a phone from our store HajjBuddy.com Online Store at [click here].

b. Making Calls: Whether you buy a phone or take your own phone, you will need to buy a SIM card for the phone to work. Instead of signing up for a subscription, you can buy a 'pay-as-you-go' SIM card.A SIM card is basically a chip that you insert into the phone. The SIM card assigns your phone a phone number and lets you make and receive calls. The two most popular SIM cards for Hajj and Umrah are the Rihal SIM Card by Mobily and Sawa Al-Jawal Sim Card by Saudi Telcom.

c. Cost of Calls: The cost of the SIM card depends on how much money you want on the card. They come in different denominations and start at about 50 Riyals (Saudi Currency) (about $13 and 7 pounds). For example if you bought a 50 Riyal SIM card, you can make calls worth upto 50 Riyals. After you use up your 50 Riyals, you can just add more money 'recharge' the SIM card. Calls to the U.S. cost about 50 cents/25 pence per minute. Incoming calls are free. Text messages are about 12 cents/6 pence per minute. Calls within Saudi Arabia are about 24 cents/12 pence per minute.

d. Buying a SIM card: SIM cards can be bought at about any money exchanger or general grocerry store.

If you decide not to take/buy a cell phone, you can always use the numerous "calling booths" available. The ways these calling booths work is that there are small shop like businesses. When you walk in there are about 10-12 private booths with phones in them. The person at the front door assigns you a booth #. You go to your designated booth and make your call with the phone in the booth. When you come out, you go back to the front desk and surrender your booth #. The front desk has a computer screen that is tracking all the call times from the various booths. They will print you out a bill for you call and you pay it in cash and you are done. The disadvantage of this method is that a) you cannot receive calls. b) Calls are a bit more expensive (double the cost of cell phones). c) Lines can sometimes be long.

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3. Food:

Food is cheap and plentiful in Makkah and Madinah. A good lunch would cost about $2 and dinner about $5. Variety is plenty; you can have local Arab food, Desi food, Turkish food etc. Lines are not long at restraunts due to the large number of restraunts.

If you decide to buy a Hajj package that has meals plans included, be aware that all food is not equal. Some groups who advertise "food included" meal plan may just provide boxed food. While other groups may give you access to the hotel's buffet. So it is important to ask whether boxed or buffet style food is included. The risk with boxed food is that you do not know where it was cooked and how it was cooked and when it was cooked. You also do not know what you will be getting, in terms of whether you would like it or not. The advantage of a buffet style meal plan is that there is more chance the food has been recently cooked and cooked in a hygienic environment. In addition you have the choice of which food to pick.

It is also important if you with a meal plan to ask if food is included for the entire trip or only at certain places. For example finding food in Arafat is very difficult and finding food at Mina takes some effort (from the North American Tents).

Healthcare is a major concern for Hajjees. The last thing you want to do is fall sick on such an important journey. In addition to regular precautions of watching what you eat and washing hands frequently, there is vital precaution for MEN many Hajjees are not told about

In Hajj, you wear the Ihram for multiple days and walk great distances. The way the Ihram is worn causes extreme friction between the legs for men. This area includes the inner thighs near the groin area. Failure to lubricate this area properly results in unbearable chaffing, which can leave men unable to walk. The most simplest cure for this is to rub ample quantities of non-scented lubricants such as vaseline while wearing an Ihram. Since the sweat generated in that area tends to wash away the lubricant, constant application is necessary.

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5. Makkah First or Madinah First?:

While shopping for Hajj packages a common sight you will see is that Hajj packages are divided into categories, Makkah First or Madinah First.What this categorization means is whether you will be going to Makkah first or Madinah first in your package. Within this categorization many Hajj groups become creative marketers and sometimes use the phrases incorrectly. Below are the possible scenerios your package could have:

The inside story: If you go on a Makkah first package be aware, that this is usually the most tiresome arrival package. Most people travelling from the West have to travel about 40+ hours before they reach Makkah. Factor in the fact that you will have to be in Ihram before you reach Jeddah. So you would probably have to wear your Ihram at your starting point in the US or UK or somewhere in between. Then you will have to wait hours in your Ihram at the Jeddah airport for immigration with all of the other 3+ million Hajjees. You will have to then go through customs, catch an hour long bus ride to Makkah, check-in to hotel and then perform Umrah with the 3+ million Hajjees. All of this after travelling for 2+ days. This can be a physically and emotionally challenging.

The inside story: Landing in Madinah first is the most convenient option. The crowds at Madinah airport are less. You do not have to be in Ihram or do Umrah immediately. You can relax in Madinah for a few days before Hajj starts.Be aware the some groups claim a Madinah first package but still land you in Jeddah. From Jeddah they take you to Madinah. This can add/waste a day of travelling and you would still be exposed to the crowds/waiting in Jeddah.

Wealth is something everyone thinks decreases by buying such expensive Hajj packages. However the correct way to look at Hajj is all the ways in which you can increase your savings in the Hereafter. Below are some quick, inexpensive ways you can add millions to your accounts for the hereafter.

a) Donating a Quran: When you visit Makkah and Madinah you will see thousands of Qurans in the Harams. You may wonder where they come from. You will be suprised to know that a large majority are donated by people like you. Yes, you can donate Qurans to both Harams in Madinah and Makkah. It is very simple; there are tons of bookstores outside the Masajid. You go to any of the bookstore and tell them you want to buy a Quran or Qurans to donate to the Harams. The bookstore will know which one to give to you. They will stamp the inside and give it to you. It costs about 20 to 30 Riyal {about 8 dollars/4 pounds). You then take the Quran and put it anywhere you like in the Masjid. It is that simple. Can you imagine the reward you would get for people reading from a Quran you donated during Hajj? If the Quran lasts until Ramadan, then you would get the reward of all the people reading the Quran you donated in Ramadan in the most holiest places on Earth, while you maybe back home!

b) Zam Zam: You will see in Hajj that people start coming in the Masjid especially in Makkah for Jummuah a few hours before it starts. It is not uncommon for people to arrive 9-10am for Jummuah that starts at 1pm. The reason being that the crowds swell so much that people end up praying upto a mile away on the streets. To get a good spot near the front of the row, people have to brave scorching heat and sun by sitting in the open courtyard for hours.

A good way to capitalize on this is (in terms of ajar) is to bring to 2 2 liter empty water bottles whey you arrive. Fill them with Zam Zam before you sit down in the courtyard. Grab some cups as well. As the crowds begin to increase and it gets hot start passing out water to those near you. When the bottles finish, ask someone to save your spot. Go refill the bottles and repeat passing out the water to those in the courtyard near you. Remember the hadith Qudsi regarding giving people water to drink.

c) Wheel Chairs:Would you like to be able to do multiple Umrahs/Hajj/Salahs at the same time? Donate a wheel chair. There is a hadith that says whosoever becomes a means for something good get the reward for that good act. So imagine, if you donated a wheelchair and someone was able to do Umrah/Hajj and go to the Masjid on the wheelchair. Can you imagine the reward!

Donate a wheelchair and register it at the office by Door 25 (in Madinah). It cost about 200 riyals (50 dollars/25 pounds). Or just buy a foldable prayer stool for those people who cannot sit down cost 30 riyals (9 dollars/4 pounds) and leave it in the Masjid.