By MARY FULLER
Gannett News Service

There are other ways to spend spring break beside baking on a beach.

Students with breaks in March or early April can take advantage of well-priced packages to Europe. Or think about heading down a more philanthropic path, by spending the week working on a volunteer project, either in the United States or abroad.

Here are a few ideas to help you get you going:

Consider spending a few days studying English Literature in London. (At least that's what you can tell your parents.) British Airways offers ''The London Student Break,'' a three- or six-night package that includes round-trip air fare, accommodations, daily continental breakfast, and a travel card for the Tube (the city's efficient transportation system). Travelers also receive a voucher for Planet Hollywood that entitles them to priority seating and a free drink.

You can tour world-class museums, check out the buskers (street musicians) in Covent Garden or sample the city's infamous pub and club scene, which is sure to rival the festivities in Daytona Beach or South Padre Island.

The price for the three-day package ranges from $399 to $439 depending on which hotel you choose. The six-day package ranges from $509 to $569. These prices are for departures from New York and Boston. To check rates from your closest area, call your travel agent or (800) 359-8722.

Party in two of the coolest cities in the world - Stockholm, Sweden and Reykjavik, Iceland for only $499. Cool Northern Nights, a package being offered by Icelandair and the Swedish Travel and Tourism Council, focuses on the pub, club and nightlife in each city.

Here's how the three-night, four-day package works: Travelers fly to Stockholm for two-days of sightseeing and two nights of checking out local pubs, restaurants and funky bars.

By day, popular haunts include: the Vasa Museum, a ship that sank in 1628, and has been raised and completely restored; and Gamla Stan, the city's Old Town, with winding cobblestone streets and charming boutiques and restaurants. At night, you head to the hottest bars and restaurants, which are listed in the trip's information kit.

After Stockholm, participants fly to Reykjavik for a night on the town. The scene can best be described as Daytona Beach meets New York City.

Throngs of elated young people fill the streets either waiting to get into the bars, or conducting their own celebrations outside. Your final sleepy day (by this time you are no doubt exhausted) is spent touring the geologically awesome island including a rejuvenating dip in the Blue Lagoon, a pool of pure, mineral rich hot seawater, surrounded by icy mountains.

Out on a Wednesday. Back by Sunday. In between, visit two faraway and interesting new cities. The price includes all accommodations, most breakfasts, all flights (from New York and Boston) and entries to museums and other cultural sites. Information: your travel agent or (800) 223-5500.

Think about donating time and energy toward a greater good by participating on a week-long volunteer project. You may find yourself helping teach preschool children, rebuilding homes that have been decimated by tornadoes or floods, or lending a hand at an AIDS hospice. Pop into your school's volunteer service office to find out about projects scheduled during spring break.

If your school doesn't have such an office, Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection, at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. can put you in touch with a school that does, or help you get an alternative break volunteer program started at your school.

Altruism aside, this type of getaway is also ideal for those on a tight budget. Room and board are usually provided in exchange for hard work. For information, call (615) 343-0385.

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