1st draft Itinerary Leaving Sept 30th 2007

[steve7100]

Hi all. New member, beginner backpacker. I've read many guide book over the last few weeks and have a rough idea of where my fiance and I will be traveling too. Please feel free to let me know my mistakes and your opinions. Thanks.

9/30 Dep NYC
10/1 Arr Lisbon Portugal
10/2 Lisbon
10/3 Lisbon
10/4 Lisbon to Porto Portugal
10/5 Porto to Madrid
10/6 Madrid
10/7 Madrid
10/8 Madrid to Gibralter Dep 1415 Arr 1933
10/9 Ferry to Tanger, Morocco (We would like to just keep moving to Casablanca if doable).
10/10 Casablanca
10/11 Casablanca
10/12 Casablanca to Marrakech Dep 1005 Arr 1405
10/13 Marrakech
10/14 Marrakech
10/15 Marrakech
10/16 Marrakech to Fez Dep 0900 Arr 1600
10/17 Fez
10/18 Fez
10/19 Fez to Paris, Dep 1700 Arr 2150 (136.00 Euro for 2)
10/20 Paris
10/20 Paris
10/21 Paris

This is as far as we have gotten. We will be staying until either 11/5 or 11/12 and will be flying out of Dublin. We would like to have 7 days in Ireland. We are trying to decide to add parts of Italy, specifically Florence and Venice. This may be a little rushed, but we may never have this time to run around Europe. So help us out and tell us what you think.

[herrbert]

Hi Steve,

You could check the connections by plane from Madrid to Casablanca. At least Easyjet flies this route, but if you can fly into Marrakesh from Madrid, then you can fly with (again) Easyjet, and AtlasBlue (www.atlas-blue.com/en)

I am not sure if it wise to go up to Porto from Lisbon, you will have a limited time to see Porto. I think it is too short. I would rather opt for going to Madrid straight from Lisbon (by plane), and making a daytrip from Madrid to Toledo and Segovia. If you want to go by train, and split the journey, than take a visit to Caceres into consideration.

If you do want to add days into this initerary, but don't go to Italy than you could add Sevilla and Granada into the mix in Spain. (fly to Granada (Iberia or Spanair), and train to Sevilla), Besides seeing two beatiful places, with good sites (the Alhambra and Albaysin in Granada, and the Alcazar and the Cathedral in Sevilla. this will also make the trip to the boats much shorter. (just an idea)

[Eagle]

steve7100, Welcome! I have a few comments to add as well.

I agree with herrbert in that your time in Porto seems a bit "limited", so perhaps this time would be better spent in another area?

I'm assuming that you've worked out your transportation methods for each leg of your trip. I'm not very familiar with transportation in North Africa, so can't offer any suggestions on that part of your journey. We don't get a lot of Posts regarding that part of the world, so I'm a bit curious on your reasons for wanting to visit there?

I would definetly recommend adding Italy to the Itinerary! However, I suppose this depend on whether you can fit it into your Itinerary? Venice and Florence are good choices, and you might also consider the Cinque Terre. It's unfortunate that you won't have time for Rome,as it's well worth touring but one should allow at least five days as there's LOTS to see.

Good luck with your planning!

[steve7100]

HI guys. Thanks for the input. We cut out porto, and heading str8 to Madrid from Lisbon (hopefully we can reserve the overnight train). Madrid to toledo for a day trip, then off to sevilla and Cadiz for a few days. We will take a ferry from Cadiz to Tanger.

Tanger to Fez as soon as possible. Fez a few days to Casablanca for 2 day, 4 days in Marakesh. We checked the Moroccan rail schedule and fee's and its not too bad. For both us, traveling by ferry, train, and plane it should be less then $300.
We are going to use point to point rather then getting a rail pass in portugal/spain. Total pt to point should be about $400, the pass was $700 or so. All these price are for 2 people.

We will fly into Paris for 5 days, then fly into dublin for 3-4 days, Belfast and Derry 2 -3 days, Galway 3 days. Fly to JFK on Nov 5

My fiance visited Epcot center when she was young and fell in love with Morocco. At first, I was very hesitant. ( I would be content traveling all this time in Ireland). But after reading some, and stepping out of my comfort zone, it seems pretty interesting anf fun.

I'm not sure about our daily budget yet though.
10 days in Spain/Portugal $120 day about 90 euros
10 days Morocco $100 day about 72 euros
10 Days Ireland $160 day about 115 euros
5 Days Paris $ 160 day about 115 euros

Intrip is about $4600 about 3300 euro

Is this too Low?

[herrbert]

If you want to go straight to Madrid from Lisbon, a plane might work out cheaper (check Vueling Airlines)

About your budget, what does it in/exclude? Is it without the tickets to and in Europe? What kind of accommodation do you want to use? Is it also for 2 persons or for 1?

[steve7100]

Thanks Herrbert, I look into the flights. I was just looking at vueling a minute ago, but didn't think about flying to Madrid.
As for the budget, it is for 2, no major transportation is included(I have that over budgeted by 10% into pre trip). It includes sleeping eating and fun. The daily budget does include local transportation and reservation fees. We don't drink/smoke so that expense is gone.
I have checked hostels in Madrid, Lisbon, and Morocco. They seems alot cheaper then Paris/Ire, I tried to over budget a little, but I'm using the 2006 guide(awaiting 2007 guide from Amazon). I assume a 5 to 10 percent increase.

[steve7100]

Thanks again for everyone's help. Here is our updated itinerary and travel plans.

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