Travelers who highly value cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms, or cheap vacation packages should seriously consider booking a trip to Egypt sooner than later.
Contrarian travelers, those who visit destinations that others avoid because of recent mishaps, often have an even better time at their destination because they dont have to deal with the usual crowds and prices tend to be at their cheapest.
Two months after the revolution that resulted in the end of Mubaraks 30 year rule, Egyptian cities remain largely without the 15 million annual tourists that contribute 11 percent of its gross domestic product.
American tour companies have resumed their Egyptian operating, offering discounts of up to 50 percent. The U.S. State Department downgraded its travel warning to Egypt recently, urging U.S. citizens to consider the risks rather than avoid all nonessential travel. Other countries have similarly downgraded their warning to citizens considering travel to Egypt. Still tourism remains down by 75 percent to 90 percent.
Museums in Cairo are largely empty. The Egyptian Museum just off Tahrir Square houses the gold and jewel encrusted funeral mask of King Tutankhamun. During normal times tourists are allowed only a brief inspection of the boy kings paraphernalia. However now fewer than a couple dozen people move at their own pace through the museum giving them plenty of time to look at the case holding Tuts impressive mask.
Recently one tourist marveled over a recent visit to the pyramids in nearby Giza where he paid only $17 for a three hour horseback ride around the deserted monuments. He couldnt get over the fact that none of his pictures had tourists in them.
It is anyones guess at this moment how long it will be before tourists start visiting Egypt again in mass. Right now is certainly a very unique opportunity to visit to Egypt and enjoy an experience of a lifetime. www.cheapfares.com