Sara International Travel

Things went fine with Sara International during our stay in Madinah Crowne Plaza Hotel and Makkah Hyatt Regency. All commotion and problems started when they transferred us to Azziziyah and onward.

The Hotel facilities with food were sub-standard. Complete breakdown of leadership-- no group leaders to be found when needed. Mike Speakers not working along with not enough educational/spiritual programs. Group leaders not co-coordinating to keep us altogether.

Got lost a few times and had to take and pay for our own Taxi. My wife and I got lost in Mina and tried to contact our Group leader. Message said "phone not working"? We walked in the hot sun for an hour and finally came to a Sara Tent.

The Sara American tents were pretty cramped up and unsanitary conditions. We noticed other groups under different company being treated with fruits, other fine food and sessions being conducted by their group leaders. Not enough transportation support with long wait periods. Conditions for the last two days during our departure time from Aziziyah were worse.

No food served, transportation to haram sharif null. No one from Sara travels came to see us to see our state of affairs and bid farewell --seems they just wanted to get rid of us asap and save money. Sara leaders were mostly seen staying in Hyatt regency. Anyway it is expected to a certain degree, that there will be issues with logistics with so many people performing Hajj .

But Sara International failed in providing most services as promised. They are more concerned with making considerable amount of money then serving there patrons. I do forgive them for their shortcomings, they could at least come and bid farewell to us and we could square up things.

There is nothing wrong with making money but they have to serve there patrons fairly and with all the benefits promised. Referrals build business and that what they will be deficient in.

I can only join my words to the previous review . if anyone want to perform hadjj, please exclude Sara International travel from your choices of agencies. it is a complete disaster from the first day you arrive to Saudi. the following are a few points to nte among may others :

1- arriving to Saudi at 9pm, we only got to our rooms on the next day at around 13:00 . to our surprise Sara I T only booked rooms for us to check in at 15:00 , we were assigned temporary rooms from which we were kicked out a few hours later. the crew that handeled us in Mecca was very lost and did not know what to do. we did not see the 25 years of experience of organizinf hadj trips !

2- we were supposed to have a dars ( lecture ) every day, we only had maximum 4 brief lectures during the 15 days of our stay. the group leader ( cheikhs) spent their time sleeping even during the day of Arafat. there was ZERO leading by Example.

3- Sar I T tried to be cheap an save money on hotel rooms and transportation eventhough we paid the enormous price of $10.000 , enough to tour the world twice !

4- the group leader told us they do not work for Sara I T, they pay their trip and that's it. there is no specific program that the leaders needed to follow. there was no spirituality in the trip apart from what a person does on his/her own.

5- 99% of the people were discontented from the actions of Sara I T , ZERO / very bad communications from Sara staff.

6- do not believe the testimonials posted on their website , they are either made up or Sara service quality went very bad since the testimonials were filled up.

7- many wrong Fatwas were given to the pilgrim who missed spending the night in Mena. Sara caused many pelgrims to miss the night of the days of Tashriik in Mena. most madhaheb say they need to scarify a lamb , but Sara I T staff say it is Sunna and nothing is required.

8- Sara Staff never checked if everyone completed all the rituals, After the day of Arafat , we were left on our own . many did not know what to do and in which order. so some people may have spent the money but never completed all the rituals.

9- there was such a poor coordination between Sara staff , no one knew what's next ! there were no morning meeting between them to decide on the program of the day. because the program was actually sleeping then wake up and go back to sleeping again!

my list can go on and on. my conclusion and advice for the brothers and sisters who want to perform hajj next year incha Allah is to look for a different travel agency. do not waste your time and money with Sara. form they should go bankrupt , they do not deserve our trust and our business to organize such a wonderful event in our lives.

may allah accept from all. and last I would say : hasbya allahou wa ni3ma al wakiil .