(DNE Photo)
The Eid Al-Fitr holiday is a seasonal vacation awaited by most Egyptians for the chance to travel and spend a relaxed or fun time with families and friends. Numerous destinations are frequented by Egyptians inside and outside Egypt.
The destinations outside Egypt most booked by Egyptians are European countries and Saudi Arabia, as many Egyptian prefer to exploit the vacation for a minor pilgrimage, according to online booking company Travelstart Egypt.
Travelstart has numerous booking offers for external tourism during Eid holidays. The Eid packages are offering trips to many European cities, such as Athens, Rome, Barcelona, Paris, where an all inclusive six days, five nights trip can cost EGP 5,050 to EGP 7,000 per person.
The most frequented destination inside Egypt, booked by Travelstart clients for Eid holidays, is Hurghada, said a ticketing agent at Travelstart Egypt, adding that the booking rates have not been affected by the late attacks and the security situation in Sinai. She further noted that “we usually have a full flight and don’t find places for all applicants”.
Numerous other tourism agencies and hotels offer many deals and packages for Eid vacations. Travco holidays offers trips outside Egypt to several destinations worldwide, with varying prices. Trip prices start from EGP 4,990, for a six days, five nights trip in Beirut, to EGP 20,250, for a five days, four nights trip in Tanzania, passing through many other destinations such as Mykonos, Venice, and Paris.
Travco also offers hotel deals for Eid vacation in all touristic destinations inside Egypt, starting from EGP 715 for three nights in Le Meridien Dahab, a five-star hotel, to EGP 3,975 for three nights in Porto Sokhna, in Ain Sokhna.
“The Sinai security situation will not prevent people from traveling during Eid holidays, 90% of people I know are going to spend their vacations in Nuweiba, Dahab and Taba,” said Yasmine El-Awesty, Business Development Manager at the Nile Holding Misr Company.
Spending vacations in Nuweiba, Dahab and Taba is cheaper than Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, which caused many young people to head to these destinations, said El Awesty.
A three nights trip in a camp in these destinations would cost only EGP 700, including transportation from Cairo that could cost about EGP 200, as the night there costs EGP 80 with one meal per day. Numerous activities are provided such as diving, snorkelling, and climbing, El-Awesty added.
Meanwhile, the minimum cost for a three nights trip in Sharm El-Sheikh or Hurghada is EGP 2,000, El-Awesty noted.
