igpjazz

My husband and I are in our early 50's. We have been to Spain, Portugal and italy many times. We are visiting the French Riviera and Provence this fall. We would like to visit something different next spring for 8 days not including travel time.

Our interests are:

1. good but relatively inexpensive food.
2. charming towns/cities with lots of history
3. we are not beach goers but love good views.
2. we like museums but not spending more than 2 to 3 hours a day.

We are travel independently but if we visit Morocco, we plan to hire a guide or book a guided tour. Maybe visit Marrakesh or Fez and possibly Essouiria (?sp).

If we go to Sicily we will travel independently and visit Taormina, Syracura and Noto. I dont know if we have time to visit Palermo in 8 days.

Please advise which would be "better" to visit.

Thanks

igpjazz

topping...

annhig

igp - not sure that you're going to get much help with this. we can't tell you which the "better" trip for you would be.

you seem to have quite clear views about what you want to see in each place so you must be able to work out which would suit you best at this time.

kja

> If we go to Sicily we will travel independently and visit Taormina, Syracura and Noto. I dont know if we have time to visit Palermo in 8 days.

Taormina, Syracusa, and Noto should fit your interests quite well. I don't think it would make much sense to add Palermo to this particular trip - you might wait until you visit western Sicily for that. With 8 days on the ground you could probably add another place in eastern Sicily if you want. That would depend on your preferred pace of travel; where would depend on whether you'll have a car or not.

I haven't been to Morocco yet and so can't compare them.

Hope that helps!

ourjetboat

Having been to Sicily 3 times for a month each time...and Morocco one time..I can positively say to go to Sicily. I would stay in Ortigia for a couple of days. B and B Ortigia Seaview is nice...right above the seafood fresh market. I would daytrip only to Taormina..very touristy for a seasoned traveler..but worth a look. Consider Catania instead of Palermo to save some travel time. Rent the thinest car you can feel comfortable in! People in Sicilia are some of the friendliest anywhere.
We couldn't wait to leave Morocco.rich in history...butcouldn't tell you one other good thing!
So Catania,Noto.Ortigia...all east coast..save Palermo and west coast for your return trip.
By the way ipgjazz...we are going to Portugal this February..is there a trip report you would recommend?

robertino

Sicily. And I have not been to Sicily.

There are some cool things about Morocco - gorgeous riad hotels, the scenery, the Mergouza dunes, riding camels - but I couldn't wait to leave either.

If you do decide on Morocco, be sure to hire a guide who will keep the swarms of parasitic faux guides off of you.

igpjazz

Thanks kja, ourjetboat and robertino. Looks like Sicily it is. We were supposed to go this year in March but was postponed because of family reasons. The reason I was looking into Morocco is because my husband thinks it is very interesting ( and I am sure it is) but will plan for it some other time.

Ourjetboat, I do not have any particular trip report to suggest but you can search it up here or at slow travel. How many days are you planning and when do you plan to go? The last time we visited Lisbon was in Sept 2010. We really love Portugal.People are nice, and food is very good and inexpensive. Lisbon has the grittiness to it that we find very charming. We also stayed at Sintra. Visited Fatima, Batalha, Obidos, Cascais. We still have to visit the northern part of Portugal.