Congressional junkets at taxpayer expense are perks that haven't been cut back in these financially-trouble times. To the contrary, traveling is up and the costs continue to rise, a study by The Wall Street Journal shows. Kuwait, Germany and Austria are the most favored destinations followed by France.

The study says that lawmakers and their aides often visit Kuwait in connection with trips to Iraq. In 2008, they took 113 trips to Iraq, according to the Journal analysis, down slightly from the prior year.

Not much money is spent in the war zones. Lawmakers are not allowed to stay overnight in Iraq and receive only minimal spending allowances for their one-day visits.

The study does not say what attracts lawmakers to Germany and Austria, the number two and three most favored destinations,.

They usually fly on government planes and bring their spouses along at taxpayer expense. They stay in expensive hotels, shop at a discount in embassy gift shops and eat lavishly at top restaurants.

They call these trips "fact-finding tours" but the only facts they obtain are usually information on the best places to sight see, the best places to eat and what other perks might be available.

Golfers in Congress take along their clubs. Spouses bring their shopping lists. At the lavish Paris Air Show in June -- where defense contractors ply members of Congress with free booze, gifts and expensive dinners -- members lived it up.