Halal holiday stays: clubs, hotel chains and self-catering compared

Formats for a longer stay

Families usually choose among four formats: a holiday club with activities and meals, a hotel on half board, a hotel chain with several locations, or a self-catering apartment or house. Each leaves a different amount of control with the guest.

A club suits families who want everything on site. A hotel suits those who like to eat out. Self-catering gives the most control over food and prayer, in exchange for shopping and cooking.

Whichever format you choose, check the distance to shops and a mosque, because on a long stay small daily journeys add up.

Holiday clubs in France

Belambra operates 44 holiday clubs and hotels across France, offering a wide choice of regions for family stays. Its website does not state halal options, so ask each site whether halal meat is available, how it is supplied and whether the menus can be adapted.

For a French stay, ask also about the nearest mosque, the activities for children and the arrangements for swimming pools, particularly for women. Ask in writing before booking, and keep the reply.

Ask also whether packed lunches, a kitchenette or a microwave are available for excursions, since lunch is often where halal options run out.

Hotels that promote a halal approach

Sofyan Hotel operates two hotels in Jakarta, at Cut Meutia and Soepomo, and promotes a halal hospitality approach with a halal restaurant. Hotels like this suit travellers who want the hotel itself to be designed around Muslim guests, which is easier in a Muslim-majority country such as Indonesia.

Even then, ask what the approach includes, for example whether alcohol is served, how the kitchen is supervised and what services exist for prayer.

A hotel run on this model can also help with local advice, such as nearby mosques and the times of congregational prayers, which is valuable for a first visit to a large city.

Chains with many locations

Hotel Seri Malaysia is a chain of 20 hotels across Malaysia. A chain gives a familiar standard from one town to the next, but halal dining arrangements should be checked for each hotel. Quality can differ between branches.

For a round trip with several stops, a chain can simplify booking and cancellation. Confirm, hotel by hotel, the halal dining, the prayer facilities and the direction of the qibla.

If you tour Malaysia by road, a chain also helps with fixed arrival points, and the staff can often advise on the next stop.

• Are all branches covered by the same policy?
• Which hotels have a prayer room or only a mat?
• Is breakfast and dinner prepared on site?

Apartments and self-catering

A rented apartment or house gives a family a kitchen, privacy and freedom of timing. It is also the simplest way to guarantee that meals match your requirements, provided you can buy halal meat nearby.

Look for a kitchen with the basic equipment, a washing machine and a space large enough for the whole family to pray. Check the location of shops, a mosque and public transport before paying a deposit.

Check the rental conditions too: deposit, cleaning fees, the number of guests allowed and the arrival and departure times.

Prayer, privacy and children

On a long stay, a regular routine becomes more important. Ask whether the hotel provides a prayer mat and the qibla direction, and whether a quiet room exists. Families with older children often value separate sleeping areas or connecting rooms.

Check the pool hours, the supervision of children's clubs and whether staff enter rooms during the day. Women often appreciate a private or screened part of the pool or spa, although few places offer it.

Mealtimes deserve their own plan on a long stay: decide which meals will be eaten at the property, which on excursions and which cooked by the family, then check that each of them is realistic given your daily schedule.

Verifying, booking and avoiding mistakes

Ask the same questions at every property and compare the answers: halal meat, alcohol, prayer space, family rooms, cancellation. A written reply is better than a phone call, since it gives you evidence if something goes wrong.

Mistakes to avoid are taking a label for proof, booking non-refundable rates before getting answers, and choosing a place far from shops, with no car. Leave a margin in the budget for meals if the stay does not include them.

Finally, keep copies of every confirmation and note the name of the person who gave it.