My husband and I and our 25 year old son would like to go somewhere we haven't been before. My husband and I have been many places in Europe, but not to Portugal which is also on our son's wish list. I am thinking about planning a trip to Portugal and Morocco, which is on my wish list and different than anywhere else I've been. I am just beginning to plan. We are mid-budget travelers who like to see and experience the local culture. Any help would b greatly appreciated - times of year to go, minimum amt of time to see both countries, itineraries, best things to do, is this a good plan, etc? We are traveling from the San Francisco Bay Area. Thanks so much.

While I can't help you with Morocco, Portugal is a fabulous destination. As with many places, you're better off if you can avoid peak summer season, which, in any case will be excruciatingly hot in Morocco. Portugal is probably best Sept-November, and Mar-May.
Lisbon is a great city to stroll around in, nice people, wonderful food, lots to see. Our favorite area though was the often overlooked Alentejo which feels remote but is dotted with the most gorgeous whitewalled towns. Glorious.
You can read my blog to see pictures if you like.
http://travellingdad.wordpress.com
or just ask questions.

My family and I just came back 2 weeks ago from a trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Lisbon was a surprise for us - many places to see, wonderful food and quite affordable. 3 days was not enough to explore the city and we didn't get a chance to visit Sintra. We got an apartment right on Praca Camoes in the Chiado area which was very convenient for shopping, eating out, etc. We also visited Madrid and Toledo before flying to Casablanca for our 5-day private tour booked thru Authentic Morocco. We went to Meknes, Fes, Merzouga (for the Erg Chebbi dunes - must visit!) and Marrakech. Then we flew out to Barcelona for the last leg of our vacation. While there, we visited Montserrat.
If you have specific questions about any of the places we visited, let me know.

We did a Barcelona and Morocco trip in March of 2007 and thought the weather was pretty ideal. We did 5 nights in Barcelona and then 7 nights in Morocco - doing Marakkech, Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes - I agree a MUST!!)and Fez. I do wish we had an additional night in Fez and we didn't have time for Essouria so 10 nights would probably be ideal.

Here is a link to my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-tangines.cfm

BlueLark:

I answered your Portugal/Maroc questions in the Euro forum, so in case you haven't read it, here's a partial copy:

We drove a rental car from Fes, after taking a car and driver from the port of Tangiers, then went on to Sahara dune country (Erg Chebbi- Erfoud area), the gorges, to Ouarzazate, to the beginning of the Timbuctou trail in Zagora, back to Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca and Rabat. In two and a half weeks, we covered a good chunk of the exotic country, which we found to be fascinating, friendly and comfortable. Have since sent several friends and family, each of whom loved it.

The weather in arly springn was moderate and very pleasant. As I mentioned in the other post, these pics were taken in '97, before we went digital..so they're scanned, some two or three per page. It takes a little work, but click on the magnifying glass icon and then move mouse wround accordingly. Hopefully you'll fin these interesting and descriptive enough if you do go ahead to Morocco. I can highly recommend you do so. Also included my Portugal pix from '08..wonderful country, my last remaining one in continental Europe.

Stu Tower [email protected]

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Morocco# (check map for routes to follow..we drove all the way)

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Portugal2008#

Excuse the few typos..older eyes play tricks some time.
stu

I did a Lisbon and Morocco trip a couple of years back. Click on my screen name for the TRs. I flew Lisbon-Casa.

Our 12 day trip to Morocco was to the three imperial cities: Marrakech, Meknès and Fez. We traveled via public transportation (train from Marrakech to Meknès and Fez, and bus back from Fez to Marrakech). From Fez we took two day trips, one to Azrou--a long day but worthwhile if you go for the weekly market--and the other to Sefrou. We did not go to the desert.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...70770847/show/

Michael...great shots, intriguing presentation...thank you for once again sharing/ Are they scanned or digital/ I'm in the process of re-scanning many of my worldwide pix...all before I went digital in 2004. The nice thing about scanning, it allows you to edit. I definitely need that feature!
Stu

Stu,

If you noticed the date of the trip, they are all scanned and at times could use more editing to get rid of some lint marks that I did not remove from the negatives.

Michael

Stu,

There are several ways of looking at the pictures. For the best view of just pictures, the slide show of a set, viewed full screen is the best (photostream does not even represent the upload order I chose, so that a slide show of that has no logical sequence). But If one asks for more information, it blocks the top right of the picture, and I find that annoying. I would then go to a set a simply click from one picture to the next. I generally identify the location, and occasionally add a comment. I also geo-tag the pictures--although not all--which might help in figuring out where the location can actually be found within a greater geographic area.

Michael

they are both wonderful destinations and deserve their own trips IMO, even thogh you are f rom the west coast. Portugal, with Azores or Madeira, then Porto, Douro Valley, other small towns, and Lisbon are great -- we went in June which happened to be early in the season and few toursts.

Morocco is also great and you could go earlier in the year. March was very nice -- I also went in January but that was not ideal.

Bonnie