Umrah can definitely be an expensive journey.  Using points and miles can help lower those costs significantly – our family went to Umrah in November of 2024 for just $500 out-of-pocket.  This cost entails all flights for 4, hotel stays, and transport from Makkah to Madinah.  Here’s how to book Umrah travel for just taxes and fees – this post will cover how to book hotel stays.

Related:  Check out how to book flights for Umrah on points and miles.

How To Search

I generally suggest searching for one room, one adult so you can see all options available.  For example, you know a room with two queen beds can ideally fit up to 4 people.  You can always call and add the rest of your traveling party to your reservation, after confirming room capacity as well.  It’s important to note that room capacity may not always be listed.  So do call and confirm with the property, especially if you’re trying to figure out how many rooms to book.

By searching for 1 room, 1 adult, I see all room types available on points for the dates I am looking to stay.  Now I need to check for room capacity.

Room capacity is not stated.  In this case, I would email or call World of Hyatt to confirm room capacity.  I have stayed at this property before – I needed 2 rooms when my family went.  I booked a standard king room connecting to a standard 2 twin beds room for the 4 of us.

That’s not always the case with all properties though.  We stayed at Madinah Hilton in November of 2022.  I booked this room for the 4 of us:

Room capacity is clearly listed.  This particular room has 3 single beds, with a 4th pullout bed.  It’s important to note that all room types may not be available to book in points, such as this one.  (We booked this room using cash, back in November of 2022.)  Note that Hilton also allows you to search by connecting rooms and number of beds.

Connecting Rooms

It’s important to note that not all room types connect.  If you have young children you are traveling with, this is important to confirm with the hotel property prior to your arrival.  You don’t want any suprises when you arrive.

In Makkah, I booked two rooms at Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah.  I booked a standard king bed room, connecting to a standard 2 twin beds room.  I was also a fairly new World of Hyatt Globalist (their highest hotel status), and applied a suite upgrade to our king bed room prior to our arrival (you need to call Hyatt to do this).  Upon arrival, I was upgraded for free to a suite.  But the suite did not connect to the 2 twin beds rooms where our kids were staying.  Rather it was on the same floor, a few rooms away.

Free Breakfast

Unless otherwise stated, a standard room will not come with free breakfast (unless you have hotel status that includes it).  You will need to book a room type that includes breakfast, normally it’s stated as something around the lines of a “bed + breakfast” option.  It’s different for each of the major hotel loyalty programs.

Let’s take a look at World of Hyatt.  In this case, we know that Club Access means you will get to access to the Regency Club, and/or a designated restaurant for free breakfast.  This can possibly even include snacks and drinks throughout the day.  Note that this can vary across properties and regions.  Again, you will want to verify what exactly you get access to, where, and for how many people – prior to your arrival.  You may need to book a more expensive room – in either points or cash – if you want free breakfast.  (This was a search I did for award availability for April 2026; note that a full points rate/night was not available for Club Access rooms for those dates.)

Now let’s look at Hilton Honors.  When I search for award availibility in April, at Madinah Hilton, no options mention free breakfast.  (But room capacity is stated.)

You can also select “More rates from…” and then select from the add-ons available:

   

Again, you’ll want to confirm with the property prior to your arrival, how many people that will cover.  Be mindful of language barriers and varying definitions of hotel perks and benefits.  When it comes to Hilton Honors, Gold & Diamond member typically receive free breakfast.    Select Hilton cards come with these statuses, granting a daily food and beverage credit at participating Hilton properties.

When we stayed in the “Junior Suite Three Beds City room” (shown above) in November of 2022, we had hotel cards at that time that granted us status that included free breakfast.  We didn’t need to pay anything additional.

If you earned points for a respective hotel stay from a co-branded hotel card (so directly with a hotel loyalty program), check what the card has to offer.  Does it grant you any hotel status that includes these breakfast perks or credits?

In Sum

Each major hotel loyalty program is different: World of Hyatt, IHG, Hilton Honors, & Marriot Bonvoy when it comes perks and benefits.  Here’s what to remember:

• When you’re looking at a co-branded hotel card offer, search award availability with the respective hotel programs first, to get an idea of how much 1 standard room will cost you in points/night.  Then see how many nights a select card offer you’re eyeing, would potentially cover.
• Do those co-branded hotel cards offer any free breakfast perks or credits?
• You’ll need to note room capacity.  Will 1 room work for you, or do you need to book 2 rooms to fit everyone traveling with you?
• Start planning early!  I highly recommend planning an Umrah trip atleast 1+ year out.  Earning and redeeming points takes time!  If you need 2 rooms, you’ll need more points.  If you get a co-branded hotel card, don’t forget to refer your spouse.  Don’t miss out on referral points!

Umrah is achievable for thousands of dollars less!

For more in-depth information, check out A Guide to Umrah on Points & Miles that I’ve created that walks you through:

• How to search for award flight availability (economy seats) from the U.S., on popular routes to Jeddah & Madinah
• How to search for award flight availability on partner airlines for airlines in the same airline alliance, with video walkthroughs on both
• How to book hotel stays on points, in the 4 major hotel loyalty programs
• What cards are best for hotel stays & flights, as well as thinking through card lifecycles
• How to cover other travel-related costs (such as transportation between the 2 holy cities) that isn’t booked directly using points/miles (like airfare & hotel stays)
• What “free breakfast” means in each of the major hotel loyalty programs, and how to get that perk
• How to stay organized in award travel with the TravelFreely App

I’ve also spent thousands of dollars to go to Umrah with my family, and I know the feeling of planning and saving up.  With points and miles, the journey is closer and more attainable than you think.