misskdonkey

I totally get the idea of a trip to Morrocco, and I would agree with the posters suggesting Tarifa instead of Algeciras, it is much nicer, but the downside is a Tarifa crossing is subject to the weather always, Tarifa is really windy and the ferry is sometimes cancelled because of this. If you had more time you could wing it but on limited time frame, I wouldn't risk it. Tarifa is also a long way from Seville. If it was me I'd concentrate on maybe 4 stops that are easy to get to and maximise your time enjoying your holiday in Spain.
Leave Morrocco for another trip.

CounterClifton

Just realizing your itinerary and that Malaga is as close as you're getting to a ferry port. By car, that's a 3.5 hour round trip just to get to Algeciras. By train, somewhat longer. Tarifa is 4 hours and I don't believe it has a train option.

Then there's the ferry, which has an immigration component both ways, so you need to be there a bit early. The sailing itself, Algeciras to Tangier is about an hour each way on the faster boats.

Realistically (barring changing a planned night to the ferry area) you've got over 6 hours of round trip travel time, before you've gotten off the boat and started having a look around. Doable... hardly like visiting Canada from Miami... but a pretty long day even if nothing trips you up. If you ended going through all that to get to Fez or something, maybe. But Tangier?

Could there possibly be some cheap budget flights from Madrid to Fez (like on Bravofly) that could get you to Fez and maybe do a little overnighter there? Listen to the call to prayer, wander the maze of the medina, try a tagine at least? Seems like it would be a bit more informative and possibly even cheaper and easier.

MoBro

Spain is so awesome, do you really need to visit Morocco? Sounds like a lot of trouble to get there.
There are so many great daytrips by train within Spain.

We loved Seville for 5 nights. We didn’t feel like spending a day away.

Our DD was recently also in Malaga and Cordoba, and loved them.

Adelsten

I agree with other responses, short trips for Morocco isn't a good idea because there's so much to see... I think it's better to concentrate on Spain totally for this time

StCirq

<<Évora has changed somewhat since PalenQ & StCirq where last there. It's cleaned up quite a bit.>>

I have never set foot in Evora, so don't know what you are referring to. What I meant to convey was that PalenQ doesn't seem to have been in Morocco in a very long time (like lots of other places he refers to) and apparently thinks that Tangiers is still a dump, which it's not.

Still, I wouldn't include Morocco on this trip. It deserves a week or two of its own.

PalenQ

Evora when I was there was seemingly clean then - never been to Morocco or Tangiers and should not have mouthed stereotype takes on Tangiers.

PalenQ

I wish I had done a day trip to Morocco when I was there and yes its ephermeral but go for it - just going across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa is great if nothing else. I've never got back and won't, due to circumstances, but still rue not doing it. Your kids may like that more than anything else and may never get a chance to set foot in Africa and since Tangiers is all gussied up head for it.

basingstoke2

I agree with Pal - we did the day trip and were glad that we did. How many times will you have a chance to visit a Souk (Casbah). The Grand Souk in the Old City it typical of the type seen in the middle east and reminds me somewhat of the one in the old city of Jerusalem. It has atmosphere, is memorable and you will be able to sample Moroccan cuisine there if you research the restaurant - many are tourist oriented, but some are not and they are worth seeking out. If you go, be prepared to attract a group of kids following you around trying to sell trinkets. It is part of the scene. If you take a tour however, know that your time will be mostly eaten up with rug and spice demonstrations the purpose of course is to sell you stuff. Ditch the tour and go it on your own.

CounterClifton

<i>just going across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa is great</i>


Now that's true. I mean, it's mostly in your head, the "wow, we're crossing the straights of Gibraltar" (in our case, Africa to Europe, but in a day trip, you get both). In reality, there's not really any major difference in the experience than any other short ferry crossing. But the history, the implications of being in *that* crossing IS pretty cool to think about.


<i> the purpose of course is to sell you stuff</i>

Very much a Moroccan experience. Learn "La Shukran" (no thanks) and plan to not browse merchandise in shops or on the street without negotiating or talking your way back out of the shop. Best bet if you hate to tell people "no" is to not be caught looking at anything you don't have some thoughts about buying. lol. You WILL be wheeling and dealing, whether you want to or not! I can only imagine that a tour would be a never ending, in someone else's hands version of this.