This is a private trip with mainly private tours where these are included. The Gaudí night visit will be shared with other visitors, but we promise they won't bite.

The simplest way is to fly into Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) and out of Seville (SVQ). It's also possible to return to Madrid by train and fly out from there.

You might also want to consider travelling to Barcelona by train. From Paris it's a six-hour ride through the French countryside and across the Pyrenees to reach Barcelona. If you are coming from the US, then we can begin this trip in Paris and we work with a lovely hotel right by the Gare de Lyon station to make life easy. A two-night stay tends to work best if you've not been to the City of Light before.

You can see an example of that in action here, so please just let us know if you would like to add Paris to this trip.

We think spring (April through the first half of June) and fall (mid-September through early November) are great times for this trip. Temperatures historically range from 15-25°C (59-77°F), rainfall is consistently fairly low and daylight length averages around 12 hours. In Barcelona, rainfall is technically highest in May and October, but Catalonia has experienced some of its worst droughts in living memory recently. Things are getting drier, and warmer. So if it does rain on you, spare a thought for those tending vines and orchards in the hills around the city!

We love coming to Barcelona and Seville in particular in the winter months (late November through March). You can get consecutive days of blue skies, comfortable temperatures and some lovely late afternoon light at this time of the year. The cities draw breath and feel quieter, not exactly quiet but certainly calmer. As Europe's highest capital, Madrid can be cold in winter, but you can again get days of lovely blue skies here. The average temperature is historically 5-10°C (41-50°F), so wrap up warm and you'll be fine. There's always a warming café around the next corner!

Barcelona is a year-round destination, but we tend to advise against travel to Madrid and Seville in the height of summer. Things can get stiflingly hot, prompting most Madrileños and Sevillanos to head for the countryside and coast during August, sending the cities into a bit of a shutdown. Barcelona is a bit cooler because of the sea, but it can still be hot and busy at this time of the year.

The hotels we use in Barcelona and Madrid are all within a short walk of a well-connected Metro stop, and all three are close to good restaurants and the heart of the city. We look for quiet and comfy rooms, good service and a bit of personality. We like some luxury touches, but not necessarily luxury for the sake of luxury.

Please inquire for full details of where you'll stay.

This is a trip which rewards you getting out and about to explore the cities on foot, and the occasional eBike. Naturally, there are ways for you to dial this up and down as you go though.

We don't pack your days too tightly. Let's say have a self-guided walking tour that typically takes 3-4 hours to complete. Well that could very easily be stretched over a whole day if you stop for coffee and lunch, and pop into a museum, art gallery or some interesting shops. There's really no need to ever rush.

Equally, you don't have to do what we tell you. Yes the audio tours are a lot of fun and share some great stories, but if you just want to sit and chill by the beach or if a shower sets in outside, then you simply skip it or leave it for another day. There's a lot of flex built in, with time for you to adapt things.

The only fixed elements are the guided tours. The eBike excursion is designed for everyone. As long as you can ride a bike in a straight line, you'll be fine. Having a private guide means you can adapt things to you, so if you want to cover less ground and spend more time in one specific area, that's usually just fine.

As part of your trip you'll have your own travel app which is packed with background information, useful tips, sightseeing advice and personal recommendations from us and our team. This will help you plan your days, from your hotel's front door and back again. We'll give you everything you need for the week, including using the Metro (it's really easy) and how to explore each part of the cities. If something happens, you also have a 24/7 emergency contact for us.

No, though you'll find that Catalan is actually the lingua franca in Barcelona. This being a city, you'll be just fine. The only time you might struggle is if you go to a proper neighbourhood restaurant away from the tourist centre (there's a good one by Sants station). The language might be in Catalan only, though everyone speaks Spanish so if you've got some of that, this would be the time to use it. Aside from that, no te preocupes - you'll be fine.

In Seville and Madrid, again you'll be fine in most places, even if it's just with a bit of pointing and gestering. Things like Madrid's Metro ticket machines can be put into English.

That's the idea, yes. For example, Barcelona is a great city with some truly wonderful, world-famous monuments and galleries. But it's actually quite easy to leave without getting a real feel for the city and the people who call it home. We won't let that happen. As well as the time you spend with your guides, you'll also have lots of recommendations for interesting independent shops, bars and restaurants and if you're an adventurous sort then do have a go at speaking in Spanish. Although Catalan is the dominant language, they'll always dust off their Castilian to chat with anyone cultured enough to have a go!

We can adapt things to a certain level, such as potentially taking out or adding a night, or adding time elsewhere in Catalonia. The city has winegrowing areas to the west and the lovely beaches of the Costa Brava to the east. From Seville it's also very easy - and tempting - to continue your travels by train through Andalucía to Córdoba and Granada.