With purse strings tightening all over the world with the current economic climate, many people are finding that the traditional four or six week August holiday is harder to afford. The result has been that weekend breaks, rather than traditional summer holidays, are becoming more and more popular. This is true whether you live in Europe or North America, as even North Americans are flying over to the continent for short vacations more and more often.

There are so many different kinds of weekend breaks to choose from, it is hard to know where to begin. The break you choose will depend a great deal on what you have in mind and what kinds of things you like to do. The following are some ideas that may help you have the best weekend break in Europe possible.

- Romantic breaks. There are some great city break deals to some of the most romantic cities in Europe. Of course, Paris, the city of love, comes to mind first, and there are very good, economical travel packaged to Paris available. Also consider other major European cities, such as Amsterdam or Venice, or more out of the way places, such as a private chalet in the Alps, a flat near the beach in Cornwall, or one of the many luxurious islands of Greece.

- City breaks. Europe's cities are not its only beautiful, interesting spots, but they often are the place where culture and history are most readily available and accessible. There are also long walks, old and new parts of town, public transportation, and inexpensive tours that will take first time visitors through the city's most memorable sites.

- Train breaks. Taking the train can be a better choice for a weekend break for several reasons. It is more environmentally friendly, it is less hassle with baggage and security, and it allows you to see not only your destination, but all points in between. In addition, nearly every destination in Europe is accessible by rail travel. For especially appealing weekend breaks, consider taking the train to Dublin, Edinburgh, or Stockholm.

- Literature breaks. If you are a literature buff, you can take tours of the exact places where your favourite novels are based. London, of course, is a gold mine of literature settings. Edinburgh and Rome are another two promising cities. And don't forget that you can take the Dracula tour or the DaVinci Code tour, and follow the routes taken by some of your favourite fictional characters.