My Lisbon/Morocco Itinerary-any suggestions?
 

So I think I've come up with this plan and I'd love some feedback. This trip will be me, my husband and my 27 year old daughter...who has always dreamed of going to Morocco. She is a chef and is excited to see (and buy) all the many spices. We'll probably also take a cooking class in Marrakesh, and maybe Lisbon too. Since we fly in and out of Madrid, we figured we'd give it a couple of days just so she can get a taste of Spain, since that is her predominate heritage. My husband and I have been to Spain before (me twice), but never to Madrid so we're excited to tag on a couple of days there as well....especially since we loved Spain.

As you can see below, we have the possibility of adjusting the number of days in Lisbon and Marrakesh and I'd appreciate input on that from those who have been to both. We're not museum people (have seen enough to last me a lifetime), but we enjoy just absorbing the culture, walking around seeing the sites, browsing the local markets, and eating and drinking in reasonably priced local places.

Feb 10, Saturday, Flight LAX to MAD, Depart 8:28am

<b>LISBON:</b>
Feb 11, Sunday, Arrive MAD 8:05am, Flight MAD to LIS, Depart 12:20pm, Arrive 12:40pm
Feb 12, Monday, Day in Lisbon
Feb 13, Tuesday, Day in Lisbon (My Birthday �� )
Feb 14, Wednesday, Day in Lisbon <i>(<b>OR</b> Option to fly LIS to RAK, Depart 12:15pm, Arrive 1:55pm??)</i>
3.5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS IN LISBON <i>(<b>OR</b> 2.5 DAYS/3 NIGHTS??)</i>

<b>MARRAKESH:</b>
Feb 15, Thursday, Flight LIS to RAK, Depart 12:15pm, Arrive 2:35pm <i>(a little longer flight than above)</i>
Feb 16, Friday, Day in Marrakesh
Feb 17, Saturday, Day in Marrakesh
Feb 18, Sunday, Day in Marrakesh
3.5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS IN MARRAKESH (i)(<b>OR</b> 4.5 DAYS/5 NIGHTS??)</i>

<b>ESSAOURIA:</b>
Feb 19, Monday, Bus to Essaouria, Depart 8:30am, Arrive 11:30am-12:30pm
Feb 20, Tuesday, Day in Essaouria
1.5 DAYS/2 NIGHTS

<b>MADRID:</b>
Feb 21, Wednesday, Bus back to Marrakesh, Arrive 11:30am-12:30pm, Flight RMK to MAD, Depart 3:10pm, Arrive 6:15pm
Feb 22, Thursday, Day in Madrid
Feb 23, Friday, Day in Madrid

Feb 24, Saturday, Flight MAD to LAX, Depart 1:05pm, Arrive 9:16pm

I always figure the more time in Lisbon the better.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-lisbon.cfm

By the time I got to Marrakesh I had been in Morocco for going on three weeks, and it was not my favorite destination there.

Where was your favorite destination in Morocco?

Probably Fez.

Yeah, I wish I had time for both :/

Here is what we plan to do (also flying in from Lisbon):
Day 1 Arrival Marrakech
Day 2 Marrakech - Full day
Day 3 Essaouira Day Trip - Marrakech

Day 4 Depart Marrakech / Casablanca (Hassan II mosque)/ Meknes (lunch) /Moulay Idriss (Walila Farm - city break)

Day 5 Moulay Idriss / Volubilis/ Fes
Day 6 Fes - Full day

Day 7 Depart Fes / Chefchaouen
Day 8 Chefchaouen - Full day

Day 9 Depart Chefchaouen tor Tangier (via Tetouan)
Day 10 Depart Tangier for Lisbon/Newark (need to stay in Tangiers because of flight needs)

Thoughts anyone? Driver/guide recommendation?

You seriously expect to get to Meknes in time for lunch? Early start and late lunch, perhaps?

That's exactly what I was thinking, early start, later lunch; sleep in before Volubilis, shorter, non-rushed drive to Fes for dinner.

This does short-change Meknes a bit, but I thought a switch to a more rural view in Moulay Idriss would be welcomed before FES and the rest...

Driving? Grand taxi? Train? Bus?