Help with Spain Morocco Trip in Sept/Oct

You will have time for a daytrip or two from both Marrakech and Fes. The Lonely Planet guidebook lists all the best options that I know about, which will be plenty to keep you busy. From Marrakech, I enjoyed visiting a village in the Ourika valley; grand taxis go there and maybe also buses.

Note that the ferry from Tanger to Algeciras does not leave from the city center, so you can take a free, one-hour shuttle bus from Tanger City (Medina) port to the newer Tanger MED (Mediterranean) ferry port. Ferries to Tarifa depart more centrally, then you need an additional 1/2 hour by bus on the Spanish side from Tarifa to Algeciras.

Personally I think you have way too much time in Morocco. I did a day trip to Tangiers from Tarifa on the ferry, and that was enough for me! I would not even think of going to Morrocco without some kind of a guide. You will never find your way around the medina without a guide. From Tangiers most ferries go to Tarifa. But, there are two different ferry stops both named Tangiers. It is a short ride to Tarifa, and from there you can take a bus. I am not sure about buses to Granada from there, but I think that would be a better choice. Look into the bus versus some of the train trips, they may be shorter and cheaper.

You have 10 days planned in Morocco, and only 9 days in Spain. I think Spain is a lot more interesting, and definitely safer, but that is just me. I LOVE Spain! Look into some of the trips that take you around Morocco. For me, 5 days would be plenty! there was a travel agency in Torremolinos where I lived last year that offered them and they were pretty inexpensive.

2 days in Granada is plenty but you are allowing for resting after traveling from Morocco which is a good idea. Add a day trip to Ronda, and it doesn't look like you allowed any days in Madrid??? give Madrid 3 days, you should really visit the Royal Palace, and the Prado Museum.

If you are doing this all on your own, make sure you buy tickets to the Alhambra in Granada WELL IN ADVANCE!! Now isn't too soon. You can also buy advance tickets to the Prado, and in Seville, get your tickets online to the Jardines: http://www.alcazarsevilla.org/jardines/ . Otherwise you stand in line for hours.

That is my take, you will enjoy what ever you do though.

I would perhaps spend one less night in Fez. Instead spend 2 nights in Madrid at the end of your journey, so you feel more relaxed as you head home. I would also spend one less night in Sevilla. Instead spend 1 night in Ronda, between Granada and Sevilla. Overall I am jealous. Can I come?

I haven't been to Morocco, but it does seem like you could cut a day each from Fez and Marrakech to add to Andalusia. Tangiers is in Morocco. I've heard it compared to a Mexican border town. You may do better to skip the time in Tangiers, the time on the ferry and the time it takes from the ferry to anywhere else in Spain by flying back. It looks like you could fly into Fez from Madrid and then fly to Seville from Marrakech, if you reverse your Moroccan itinerary.

Places to add in Andalusia are Ronda, Jerez, Cordoba and Toledo. I think 2 days in Granada is plenty, one for the Alhambra and one for the rest (or two half days).

Thomas,
I agree with the other posters who have suggested trimming some nights from Morocco and adding to Spain.

We just did a Spain/Gilbraltar/Morocco trip in March, and we only had three nights in Marrakech. At first I worried that would not be enough time, but it was perfect (for us). We spent the majority of our time in Barcelona, Granada (and two nights is perfect), with a day trip to Ronda (suggest spending one night there), and a trip to Gilbraltar (on the same day trip as Ronda). Then we spend a night in Marbella (the old town part is charming and lovely, the new part "The Golden Mile' is, well, an amazing display of wealth, but worth seeing).

If we'd had more time, we might have spent one extra night in Marrakech to do a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, and if we had gobs of extra time, we might have spent two nights in Fez.

Morocco was an interesting experience. We are extremely well traveled, but for the first time in our travels we had a bit of uneasiness as we visited the souks and square (and that was even with a hotel-arranged guide). In our hotel and in our planned activities, all was great; but when we were out and about by ourselves for less than an hour, we kept getting approached by people who were claiming to be with our hotel (and the hotel warned us those type scams were relatively common in Marrakech). Once we kindly told those men we were not buying things since we only had small carry-on luggage, that did the trick.......they quickly disappeared and left us alone....but before saying that they kept popping up oddly at every block or so, and reapproaching us. One also feel like a 'walking ATM machine' in the souks/square, as merchants are constantly trying to sell you things. But, very colorful and something you will want to see.

I hope that you won't reduce your time in Morocco due to being nervous about it. More time there may be what anyone needs to get over those nerves. While it would be common to trade some city days in order to loop through the Atlas and Sahara, that's your choice. There are several worthwhile daytrips you can do from each city, with or without a guide. Lonely Planet summarizes taxi, bus, and grand taxi options as well as most other info you need to feel prepared. Your hotel or the local tourist office can help you book official local guides in either region, when you want them, such as for navigating Fes Medina.

I love both the south of Spain & Morocco, so giving up on either one is a tradeoff. I would have to think that if you return to Europe you might be more likely to add some time for more locations in Spain, but are you likely to return for Morocco? I did enjoy Tangiers, and while it might resemble Tijuana somewhat... it is not Mexico... it is Africa... and it is interesting to see how both these cultures relate to tourists and try to simply make a living and sell you a bunch of stuff you probably don't need:) Sometimes, if they know you are not buying you can get into some very interesting conversations.... and sometimes they act like you don't exist if they are not going to get your money:)) I especially loved Asilla, a wonderful beach town, as well as the town of Chefchouen (sp?) the blue town. I was a bit apprehensive about Morocco, but once I was there I found it to be intriguing and loved the food. Every time they brought out something in a Tagine I knew it would be amazing.
Have a wonderful time..