Save big on Cleopatra exhibit in Philadelphia

When "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt" makes its world premiere at The Franklin Institute, more than 150 artifacts and multimedia features will transport visitors from modern-day Philadelphia to ancient Egypt, where the elusive queen ruled as the last Pharaoh before the Romans took power. While her body and much of the evidence of her life were purposely lost in the sands and waters of Egypt, her fascinating story, her rule, the opposition to her throne and her legendary romances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony remains.

Tickets start at $26.50 for adults.

Available at 11 hotels, the one-night Cleopatra VIP Hotel Package includes accommodations for two and two VIP (untimed, bypass-the-line) tickets to the exhibition. These exclusive tickets are available only for people who book the package. Cleopatra fans will receive other gifts and amenities, which vary by hotel.

Visitors can book the hotel package, with nightly rates starting from $119.

A two-night AAA Cleopatra package are available from three area hotels with rates from $145 and including one ticket to the exhibit and the Planetarium theater (http://visitphilly.com/aaa).

For an amped-up Egyptian-inspired vacation, visitors can take advantage of two joint ticket deals The Franklin Institute (http://www2.fi.edu/) is offering in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, housing Egyptian galleries and artifacts representing 5,000 years of history, and the National Constitution Center. The Penn Museum's ticket ranges from $25 to $32 for adults. The Ancient Rome double ticket offer is $37 and can be purchased only at the Independence Visitor Center (http://www.independencevisitorscenter.com).

For more information on the Cleopatra exhibit and hotel packages, visit VisitPhilly, http://www.visitphilly.com/cleopatra .