What is a Hotel block for Umrah?
When a diaspora family of 6-12 books is put together, they don't want to be spread out in the hotel. They would like to be in adjacent rooms. At least on the same level as the building. That's a hotel block.
A good agency will do this by booking 4-6 rooms together. The hotel will book these rooms before other visitors do.
For reunion Umrah, this matters because:
• Elderly parents may knock at adjoining rooms for assistance.
• Children are able to run from room to room without harm.
• Family can do prayers together in one room
• Shared meals are easier
• The reunion feel is maintained
A broken-up family at the hotel = it's not really a family reunion.
What "shared hotel block" actually means
There are three levels:
Level 1: Adjacent rooms (best)
Rooms next to each other on the same floor. Doors that face each other or are next to each other. Example: rooms 1208, 1209, 1210, 1211. The entire family is basically one hallway.
Level 2: Same floor (good)
Rooms on a floor but not directly next door to each other. Example: 1208, 1212, 1215, 1220. Still in the vicinity, but a short stroll between.
Level 3: Same wing (acceptable)
Rooms on the same section of the hotel, but different floors. Example: 1208, 1308, 1408. Take the elevator to go up and see each other.
Request Level 1 or Level 2 for reunion Umrah. Level 3 is fine for smaller families (4-6) and doesn't seem as though it's a big reunion.
Room types for diaspora reunion families
Mix room types to fit family composition:
For a reunion family of 10:
• Option A: 5 twin rooms = standard cost
• Option B: 2 triples + 2 twins = 15-20% savings
• Option C: 1 quad + 2 twins + 2 singles = similar cost, more flexibility
How a reunion family of 9 chose their hotel block (composite)
The Ahmed family. From three countries:
• Father (74) and mother (72) — Sylhet
• Adult daughter Saima (45) + husband (47) + kids (18, 14) — Tower Hamlets, London
• Adult son Rafiq (42) — Astoria, NYC
9 people total. They had arranged to do a 12-day Umrah of which 6 days were in Makkah.
Their hotel choice and block:
• Hotel: The hotel is an 4-star hotel Anjum Makkah, 250m from Haram.
• Block: Floor 12, rooms 1206-1212 (7 rooms that were all connected, plus 1 additional room for storage)
• Allocation:
- Room 1206: Father + mother (triple, helper for the daughter if needed)
- Room 1207: Saima + husband (twin)
- Room 1208: Kids (twin)
- Room 1209: Rafiq (single)
- Storage room 1210 (for luggage, gifts, equipment)
Total: BDT 4,80,000 + £6,200 + $3,800 = ~£12,500 GBP equivalent for hotel + flights for 9 people.
Result: Father could knock on Saima's door for help with anything. Kids ran between rooms freely. Mother and Saima cooked breakfast in their room some mornings. Everyone felt like family.
Common BD diaspora reunion hotel mistakes
- Mistake 1: Not asking for the block in writing. The chances of a verbal "we'll try" not happening on the phone are slim to none.
- Mistake 2: Trusting "near each other" without specifics. Get exact room numbers.
- Mistake 3: Different hotels for UK/BD family. The same hotel matters more than a slightly better location.
- Mistake 4: Single rooms for everyone. Adds 30% cost and doesn't help the reunion atmosphere.
- Mistake 5: Premium hotel for some, budget for others. Status difference creates awkward dynamics.
- Mistake 6: Booking through 2 agencies. Each book has different rooms; coordination fails.
Hotel block negotiations: what to ask for
When booking through one agency:
Must-ask:
• Confirm in writing that all rooms are 'next door' or on the same level.
• What is the exact range of room numbers for the rooms?
• Is the block reserved for our dates?
• What is the cost difference between connecting rooms and separate rooms?
• Is there a family room or suite available for the elderly parents?
Nice-to-have:
• Can we find a common place for lounge or seats out of our block?
• Can the mu'allim be present 24/7 for the entire block?
• Can we get breakfast together in the same place?
• Can we use the elevator for the elderly?
Red flags:
• If a room is not confirmed, you will be informed that they are not confirmed, but we will see at check-in.
• There's a hotel nearby that is filling up, we'll see what we can do
• Each family will be charged their own room block.
Hotel block pricing for diaspora reunion
For a 7-day stay at Anjum Makkah (4-star, 250m):
Bigger family = better per-person rate. Block bookings of 8+ unlock group discounts.
When to book the hotel block
For a guaranteed close-to-Haram block:
• 5 months ahead: Book block at premium hotels (less than 200m)
• 4 months ahead: Book block at standard hotels (200-400m)
• 3 months ahead: More difficult to secure adjoining rooms in close hotels
• 2 months ahead: Most likely only available for scattered housing.
Double the lead time for Ramadan. Book 9-12 months in advance for Ramadan reunion.
Why diaspora families should use a reunion experienced agency
Tour Solvers and similar agencies specialize in reunion blocks. They:
• Pre-negotiate hotel blocks of typical sizes.
• Possess knowledge of nearby hotels with adjacent rooms available
• Be familiar with makkah hotels that cater to the needs of the diaspora (kosher-Muslim hotels with Bangla mu'allim).
• Handle currency in GBP, USD, BDT
• Send a family WhatsApp group to the family.
A regular agency books one room and walks away. They never take turns to block.
What happens if the hotel changes your block?
Occasionally, rooms are re-assigned within the hotel. Common causes:
• Overbooking
• Hotel maintenance
• Last-minute changes
If your block changes:
Step 1: Call your agency right away. They negotiate.
Step 2: Minimum on the same floor or adjacent rooms.
Step 3:If the hotel says NO, the request agency will move you to a comparable hotel.
Step 4: When you arrive, request upgrade rooms or a different room or amount of compensation directly from the hotel manager.
A reunion-experienced agency handles this calmly. Inexperienced agencies leave you scattered.
