Hi Spanglydoo (great user name)There are a couple of ways to get to Cairo from Luxor if you want to go independantly. The quickest and more expensive is to book a flight through EgyptAir. They have an office near the Old Winter Palace. You can usually get a flight early in the morning and return in the evening.
The other option is to go by train, I prefer the sleeper as the journey is very long. The Sleeper train leaves Luxor at approx 8.10pm and arrives in Cairo at around 6am. Tickets can be purchased at Luxor train station. You get you own compartment to sleep two, v small but you get a little sink, two bunks and an airplane type dinner.
There are some travel companies near Egypt Air that offer day trips to Cairo inclusive of flights and a guide for the day. These are probably cheaper than going through a company like Thompsons. If you organise your own flights/trains maybe you could engage a Cairo based travel company to provide a guide. I know there are a few on here such as Debbie of Casual Cairo - maybe she can help?
I have been to El Gouna but stayed at the Movenpick although I did see the Sheraton and it is beautiful. El Gouna is a self contained resort, the only people that access it are employees, residents and tourist so it is mainly a place to chill out. El Gouna is spotlessly clean and the man made beaches have turquise blue waters. Obviously you can do diving, I also think there is a day trip to an Island not far off the coast. We hired bicycles for an afternoon and explored El Gouna which was nice. There is a lovely Marina with cafes and restaurants which is an excellent place for lunch. There is an Art Centre with local crafts and a small Aquarium which I would not recommend, expensive and all the fish were half dead. If you are on a half board basis at the Sheraton you can eat at almost all of the hotel restaurants in El Gouna so you are not restricted to just eating in the Sheraton. There is also a golf course if you are into that sort of thing.
They is a Go karting place and you can also do Quad biking in the desert. I also saw a trip advertised where you have a sunset trip into the desert and have dinner with the 'Bedouins' and some sort of Oriental entertainment. You can also do Camel riding.
Being a relatively new, manmade resort there is nothing of any historical value but this is a great place to just relax.
Hope you have a lovely time
[This message has been edited by claire_1237 (edited 26 May 2004).]