If money is no option this vacation, head off to Denmark, the most expensive country in the European Union according to a survey by Eurostat.  The research was conducted in 37 European States, and compared the prices of 2,500 consumer good and services important to a traveler.
Helping push Denmark to the top of the expensive list, was it’s food and nonalcoholic drink costs.  Wien the comparison was complete, Denmark’s prices were some 41% above the European average.
Here’s the Top 10 Most Expensive European Countries for a Traveler:

Denmark
Norway
Switzerland
Ireland
Finland
Iceland
Luxembourg
Sweden
France
Belgium

At the other end of the price scale, Macedonia and Bulgaria came in as …read more

As expensive cities go, New York City, is probably at the top of the list.  But that doesn’t mean you should bypass the city – it’s full of wonderful things to see and do – it just means you may need to come up with some creative options to make it affordable.
Here are some FREE family friendly activities for your next visit to the Big Apple:

Columbia University’s Rutherford Observatory: Help the kids reach for the stars at a FREE stargazing night.  The telescope is open alternating Fridays, along with a slide show and astronomy lecture.  Dress warmly!  The nights …read more

We all like a good travel deal, and providing a good deal for travelers, and their favorites charities, is the goal of GoodShop.com.
The site lists hundred of coupons and deals, with a percentage of every sale going back to the charity of the traveler’s choice. Travel coupons include Expedia, cheaptickets, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Fairmont Hotels, Alaska Airlines, Avis, Budget Rent-a-Car, and more.  Some of the coupons include Las Vegas package discounts on Southwest Airlines and a 5-night vacation through Travelocity.
It’s easy to use:  Go to GoodShop.com, designate you favorite cause, and then click through to the appropriate online store to …read more

Just in case you missed them…

Friday Favorites: Caves Reveal Climate, Amazon Sighting, Eco-Tourism, Soaring Solar and More (A perennial favorite)
Those Kicks Aren’t Done Kicking – Reuse Those Shoes! (mentioned in BestHealthMag.ca. Nice!)
Five Reasons Being Green Is Good for My Mental Health (by guest blogger Alicia from Mental Health Notes)
Is $4 Gas a Good Thing?
How is My Green Sunscreen Holding Up?
Green Giveaway – Learn to Create a Healthy Home CD (check here for the winner)
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Do You Know What You’re Putting on Your Face?
Why There is an Environmental Blog on the Health and Wellness Channel
Seems $4 …read more

How timely!
An article in today’s New York Times actually adds stats and graphs to support the argument that escalating gas prices are doing more to enhance usage of public transportation and reduce traffic and pollution than policies:
“We’re at the point where people really are changing habits,” said Sam Schwartz, a transportation consultant. He said that if gas prices stayed high, the result could be close to the goal set by [Mayor] Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan, which, if it had been approved, was expected to reduce traffic in much of Manhattan by 6.3 percent”
Earlier this year Mayor Bloomberg announced a plan …read more

Wait, wait. Before you bean me over the head with your pocketbook (which probably won’t hurt that much since it is so much lighter these days), let’s think about it.
Sure, gas priced above $4 a gallon broke some pumps here in Pennsylvania, but if something’s not broke, we usually don’t fix it. Maybe more expensive gas will fix some things?
An article at Time.com entitled, “Ten Things You Can Like About $4 Gas,” explores this question. Among the benefits are increased use of public transportation (hey, maybe that will mean improved public transportation and more realistic routes and times? …read more