1. Half Day off Work

One way to get the most out of your weekend break is to extend it slightly. If you leave after finishing work, you won't arrive at your destination until late. Taking a half-day off work means that you will arrive much earlier and be able to enjoy a full evening there.

2. Plan in Advance

Planning allows you to make the best use of your time. Say there's a museum you really want to visit. You head there on Sunday, only to find that it's closed. If you'd known, you could have gone on Saturday, and left your Saturday activity until Sunday. So before you go, get hold of a guide or do some research on the internet.

3. Choose Your Highlights

A weekend only allows you to skim the surface. You can't possibly see everything in a couple of days, so pick the sights that you most want to see. Rushing around only leaves you exhausted and unable to enjoy any of it. You can always visit other sights on another visit.

4. Switch off Phone

So many people are addicted to social media and their smartphone. Don't waste your weekend away checking your emails every two minutes. Nor does anyone need to read regular updates from you on Facebook. Switch your phone off, especially if you are travelling with someone else.

5. Lone Traveller

Going on a weekend break with someone else usually means compromising on what you see. Travelling solo, on the other hand, allows you to choose exactly what you do with the time. Don't be afraid to take a solo trip; you don't need someone else to have a great weekend.

6. Switch off Yourself

I've already mentioned switching off your phone. You also need to switch yourself off! People often find that hard to do, but it's important if you're going to get the most out of your weekend away. Don't give any thought to problems, work or home. Focus on enjoying yourself instead.

7. Close by

When you only have a weekend, keep the distances relatively short. Opt for a destination within, say, a two-hour flight or three-hour drive. That will give you more time to enjoy, rather than spending it on the road. Remember to factor in check-in times when flying.

8. Indulge

For most of us, a weekend away is only an occasional event, so make the most of it. Have a meal in a luxury restaurant, or treat yourself to champagne. Do something that will make the weekend memorable for you. Or you could buy yourself a special souvenir.

Admittedly, a weekend away doesn't give you much time to enjoy. But there are lots of ways to get as much as you possibly can out of the weekend. You don't have to feel the trip is over as soon as it's begun! The key is to read up in advance, and plan what you want to do while you're away. Would you rather enjoy several weekend trips than a two-week vacation, and have you ever had a disastrous weekend away?