eilat in january?

Im going on a Birthright trip in January, and unfortunately my itinerary does not include going to Eilat. I'd really like to go there, but it will cost 75 to extend my plane ticket, plus more for lodging, transportation, etc, and I don't want to spend all the extra money if its not worth it. Is the Red Sea as good to visit in January as in the summer? Is it a really spectacular place, or would I be better off saving my money for a return trip to Israel sometime in the future? I am very partial to beaches, so my instinct is that it might be worth it, but other opinions would be greatly appreciated.

My personal opinion, FWIW:
Save your money (and Eilat) for another trip. There is nothing that special about Eilat which warrants the considerable extra expense. Especially since it will be the middle of the winter and you may find it a little chilly for the beach (most likely 18-20 C, 65-70 F, but it could be a little colder).

I've never understood the attraction of Eilat. The weather is nice and there's beaches but the town is modern and not particularly attractive. If I want to go to the beach then Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Haifa etc. are all very good, if I want to go to the red sea I'd going on into Sinai. I'd save your money.

If you want watersports - yes.
If you want beaches - it probably isnt worth the extra - you could just stay in Tel Aviv

Quick answer - hope it helps