Pay in $ (works out cheapest) for the visa, as you walk through the door
into the airport building. Change your money to Egyptian at Hurghada
airport. There are a few cash machines in town, but not that many - I'd
take it all with you rather than get it there.

Hurghada is very spread out, but taxis are cheap (they usually try to
rip you off by charging 10x the going rate - which would still be cheap
if you didn't just tell them to stop pissing about) and plentiful.

http://goredsea.com/en_gomaps+1-0-redseatravelguide.aspx

(and click on hurghada)

Don't know about the water - I went in August (hot).

Hi Richard,

we just got back from Hurghada on Friday. The airport has got alot better
over recent years and getting into the country doesn't take as long as it
used to. Depending on your travel rep you can by the visa from them or from
a bank kiosk, they cost just under 10 GBP a week ago. You can buy them in
this country but they tend to cost more & you will need to send your
passport away.

The Marriot hotel (where we have stayed for the past 3 trips) is very good.
The rooms are very tidy, all have sea views and most have balconies where
you can dry your kit at the end of the week. They have 2 cash points in the
hotel (along with a bank) and a HSBC (if you bank with them) just 10 minutes
walk away. Drinking water in the hotel can be a bit expensive, your best bet
is to go to the small supermarket across the street where you can get 12
bottles (1 box) for 24 Egyptian Pounds (2.40 GBP). The only restraunt I
would really use in the hotel is the Italian, although it is a bit
expensive. Bulls is just across the street (usually good and very well
know), if you don't mind a little walk then the new padestrian area has lots
of different places to eat (we used an Italian called Maffia). Other places
we ate were Hard Rock (not as expensive as I expected) and China Town (in
old Hurghada).

I have only been out once at the time you are planning to go. Water
temperature will be around 20-21, when I went I used a 5mm with a skin but
got cold on each dive near the end of the week (water tempertaures were 24
last week and had to use my skin on the last day). Quite a few people now
take dry suits during the winter months (many dive guides are already
wearing them). On the weather front it is a fair bet that it is going to be
sunny but it is the wind that causes the problems. Once you get out of the
water and until you dry off, the wind really chills you down - take a fleese
& track suit bottoms onto the boat. In the evening you will need a pair of
long trowsers and a jumper (it can go quite chilly once the sun goes down as
they sky will be clear).

Hope this information is of some help.

Regards

Mike.
dogs_life