Thanks for the reply.

I do know people in Madrid - my boyfriend for one. He's the one whose flat isn't finished being remodled and I won't be able to stay at his parent's house - things sure are different in Spain (we're both in our 30s). I also spent about 5 days in Madrid last year, but to be honest I didn't see everything I wanted to see.

I think I'll book a single room in a student flat, and I believe the flat itself is shared between at least 2 students. I do like my privacy and think I'll have plenty of language practice with my friends. And since I do want to focus on the language, I'll go for 2 weeks since I have the time. I can always go to Paris some other trip, right?