Finbar,
Buy a Lonely Planet, it is very good, especially if you are planning to go travelling about. Much cheaper doing it yourself than with packages. But there are risks when travelling on own (small risks in my opinion).
Stayed in Hurghada for 2 weeks a couple of years ago, went to Cairo and Luxor in the middle. Flew up to Cairo, stayed in the Hilton for 2 nights(40 dollars pps per night!!!), then overnight sleeper train to Luxor, stayed there 2/3 nights, then bus back to Hurghada. Hectic but worth it. Lonely planet had all the info we needed, but we nearly got stranded for a day as there was only 1 bus per day back to Hurghada.
We went in September, but found Luxor too hot to enjoy, the tours leave before 8am to get some tour time in before the midday heat.
Beware the "all-inclusive" hotels, very handy as you don't have to worry about food, but budget to eat out every second night, as we found that the food was all very much the same each night. Also, drinks can be all inclusive, but tend to be local beers / spirits. The local spirits are best avoided.
We did a package through Amsterdam (Neckermann), worked out much cheaper than Irish agents. Plus you get to go to Amsterdam on the way. Downside, you have to book in Dutch, plus we ended up in a hotel full of Germans and Russians, with only 2 other english-speakers in the place... the bar manager (egyptian) was just back from 2 years in Dublin though!
Don't eat the salad, this includes salad in a burger or the likes ... you can learn the hard way... or else wash it yourself.
Diving is brilliant in the Red Sea, and its a great place to learn. It takes 5 days to do an introductory course, and costs about 300 euro I think. Most places will do a try-a-dive for about 10 euro. Can't recommend it enough. Snorkelling is also very good, 90% of the fun, without the cost or effort required (there is some study required, and it can be physically demanding).
holidaysuncovered.co.uk has some reviews of Egypt.
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