doryyoung

Hi all. I am thinking of doing a 2 week trip to Portugal, South o Spain and Marrakesh. Do you think that is too ambitious? I have never been to any of theses destinations. I will have 12 full days of sightseeing. I was thinking 4 days in each spot. This is not how I usually travel-I usually spend a week in 2 locations. I could cut something out and would love your advise! I am a very open minded traveler who likes to just get lost in places with no real agenda-I don't have to see every museum and every ruin-just the big ones and I must have beach time.

Thanks for any suggestions.

MmePerdu

Yes, I think it's much too ambitious, but if you've traveled this way and liked it, why would you ask? I'll just add, I think it may be 10 days for sightseeing, taking into account 2 days spent moving between countries (if your 2 weeks is 14 days including travel at both ends).

bilboburgler

Marrakesh for 4 days is fine, it is a small city and even with the best bits of the International quarter 4 days would be fine unless you want to drive around and visit the surroundings.

Portugal is a whole country, if we ignore the Islands I might do a cursory trip in 14 days, inhabited during the Roman period it is fascinating country.

Spain, is way bigger than Portugal. I'd tend to do regions in 14 day trips, been 5 times and still missed a lot.

All this in 12 days, seems to be about giving money to airlines and train companies rather than a holiday

Do you like the heat of high summer? If you want a taste of Spain you could do three of the following cities

Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba or Grenada but that misses out so much.

Then there are places like Cadiz, Malaga, Barcelona, San Sebastian etc etc

Robert2016

The time of year will play an important part in where you go. Morocco and the south of Spain can be intensly hot during the summer months. Sevilla is already into the lower 90s (great for Semana Santa), and even warmer in Marrakesh, but unlike where you're from, there is no humidity to content with, so during the day you do what the locals do and stay in the shadows.

With only 12 days to play with, I'd stick with a few days in the Sevilla-Jerez-Cádiz region (the Sherry Triangle), a couple of days in Málaga and then fly to Marrakesh for 3 to 4 days to finish your adventure. Royal Air Maroc has a direct flight from Málaga to Casablanca (one each day).

Besure to book your flight arriving in Sevilla and departing from Casablanca or Marrakesh. It will save you from backtracking.

Save Porturgal for another adventure, as there is far too much to see when you don't have the time to spare.

IMDonehere

Last September/October we did Spain/Marrakesh. We have been to Spain many times, Portugal less, and it was the first time to Marrakesh. Our trip was almost a month long and we spent a full week in Marrakesh.

We spent a week in Madrid, although we did make day trips to Toledo and Segovia.

That said, your trip is far too ambitious. I would eliminate Portugal and then decide what you want to see in Spain. There are direct flights from Madrid to Marrakesh and there may be others. Four days might be enough depending on what interests you. Please note Marrakesh was exceedingly hot and Spain can be brutal during the summer months.

In Marrakesh we stayed at Riad Djebel. The owners were extremely pleasant and attentive.

Bedar

Yes, drop Portugal and do the holy trinity of Seville, Cordoba, and Granada before going to Morocco. Look for the cheap flights there. May be from Madrid but there are some from wherever.

docdan

Hello, doryyoung, I am planning a trip like this in a year and am wrestling with many of the same issues. may I offer one point offered by the competition of this company (RS) whose advice I don't often place stock in, but he does make the following suggestion: rather than invest in the time/expense of Spain to Marrakesh, consider a day or overnight trip ferry from Tarifa, Spain ( worth a nice visit on its own) to Tangiers. Admittedly, many will holler that Tangiers is not the "Real" Morrocco" but it is also NOT Europe. If you have a specific reason to need to see Marrakesh, then this is not a relevant suggestion. but if time/resources are limited it is something to consider.

MmePerdu

Docdan, I had the same thought when I saw this post. I've been to Tangier (no "s" at the end) and taken the Tarifa ferry from Tangier & back, quick & easy and Tarifa is a nice town, too, if you don't mind the wind.

Every city in Morocco is different from the others and Tangier has a unique history, having been for years an international zone. If one can stay over a couple of nights you'll find an entirely different place than that of the day trippers. The medina is interesting and a manageable size, I find the people of Tangier in general friendlier than Marrakech. The naysayers with regard to Tangier I'd venture to say haven't stayed long enough to get a feel for it and are likely parroting the cliches.

docdan

Well said, and "S" duly dropped!

Tommmo

Last year we travelled Morocco (Marrakech - Essouira etc) and flew cheap on Ryanair Marrakech to Seville (nice town) then bus to Portugal Algarve and a car up the whole of Portugal. No reason this wouldn't work in reverse for you. A great trip it was too...