It's more than poverty. It's the authoritarian nature of virtually every aspect of Egyptian society that make it impossible for a poor person to get ahead in any way. Grown men of my age are called "boys" by people who should know better just because these "boys" have the job of delivering coffee. Rude, right? Go to a Starbucks and you'll see that the coffee consumers just leave their trash everywhere. Why? Because they are too good to do such a job as policing their own trash. It's someone else's job. That's one reason why there is trash in the streets - it's not a job anyone wants, so no one does it.

Hotels in Hurghada are not all set far back from the beach; some are right on it. However, beware asking for a non-smoking room. A non-smoking room there is just one where they put a sign next to the ash tray saying no smoking (they take the sign away after you're gone - I'm not kidding). Anything for an Egyptian pound, I guess.

However, I do encourage you to go back. Get a guide and go to the Western Desert, to the Fayoum, or the Sinai. You'll be glad you did.