In short: Count usable days in each city, not just the number printed on the package.
Separate nights from travel days
Put arrival, hotel check-in, the move between cities and the return flight onto a calendar. A seven-day label may leave fewer full days than you expect once international travel and transfers are included. Compare the hotel nights and flight timings rather than relying on the headline duration.
For a short trip, avoid packing every free period with excursions. A late arrival followed by an early transfer can leave little room to rest. The best split depends on your priorities and the physical pace of your party.
Use three example structures
As planning examples only, six hotel nights might be split four in Makkah and two in Madinah; nine nights might be five and four; thirteen might be seven and six. These are not religious prescriptions or fixed recommendations. Change the split to fit your flights, worship plans and rest needs.
A longer stay can make room for slower days, but it also adds hotel, meal and incidental costs. A shorter stay may allow a closer hotel within the same budget. Price both arrangements using your actual dates.
Make the transfer day visible
Treat the intercity journey as a separate block. Include packing, checkout, the journey to the station or pickup, travel and the next check-in. Avoid promising yourself a full programme at both ends of that day.