Short weekend breaks are the perfect way to escape the norm and experience the highlights of a destination and unwind in new surroundings, but thankfully they don't have to be a strain on your wallet. Thanks to low-cost airlines and cheaper online booking, having to plan a getaway far in advance is a thing of the past and quick, spontaneous and good value weekends abroad are now just a click away.

More and more people realise the benefits and perks of experiencing a snapshot trip to a new city thanks to cheap, last minute bookings which means that busier lifestyles now have the flexibility to still enjoy some spontaneous time away when required.

So what is the easiest way to plan a weekend break without breaking the budget? The first thing to consider is when you want to go. Both booking well in advance and grabbing a last minute deal have their advantages, but on a whim holidays usually benefit from cheaper discounts as airlines try to fill seats as the departure date gets closer. Obviously this option may not be ideal if you have children, or have a particular city, flight or date in mind, but if you're truly flexible and keen to see somewhere new, last minute often means best prices.

Similarly consider what day you actually want to fly on. Fridays are notoriously more expensive than Thursdays, for example, so leaving that little bit sooner can often dramatically reduce the overall price, leaving you more money to soak up the atmosphere once you're there.

Once you've decided when you want to fly and where exactly you want to go, take a look at what's going on at your destination once you get there. Local holidays, big events and seasonal celebrations can often hike up the price of accommodation and travel considerably, so it's always worth making sure you're not going to get any surprises when you land. The flip side of this, of course, is that countless destinations are far cheaper 'off season' too, where the sun might not be quite as warm as it was the week before or the snow might not be quite so thick, saving you vital spending money for potentially minimal compromise.

Next thing to do is to get online and find the best things to do and start making a plan. A simple search for 'top ten things to do in Prague', for example, will bring up tried and tested recommendations and save you the time, effort and stress of having to scour guide books for tips. It's important not to try and cram in too much though, as a budget weekend away should be relaxing and invigorating, as well as inspiring.

An important part of enjoy weekend breaks is scheduling in a little downtime, where you can spend a whole morning exploring a district on foot or enjoy people watching from a outdoor cafe for example.

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