3 Lesser-Known Travel Websites Worth Knowing

Whether you favor smartphones, laptops, or landlines, VOIP (Voice–over Internet Protocol) providers make transatlantic talk cheap—in a good way. Using them is easy: In many cases, you simply download the software, create a contact list, and click, "call." Plus, most companies (including the three below) post how–to–videos on their sites for first–timers to reference. Ready to reach out to someone? Service: ooVoo Works with: Smartphones (Android, iPhone); computers (Windows, Mac). Calls to U.S. land–lines: 1.8 cents per minute. Range of service: 70–plus countries, mostly in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Good to know: Up to three people can video chat on ooVoo for free, and only one of you needs to be an ooVoo user. The others can join the conversation through any Web browser, although there's no cost to download the program. Service: Skype Works with: Smartphones (Android, iPhone); computers (Windows, Mac); select TV sets. Calls to U.S. land–lines: 2.2 cents per minute. Range of service: Worldwide. Good to know: While the software itself is gratis, Skype charges for features—like group and video calling—that come standard elsewhere. Service: Jajah Works with: Any computer, paired with any phone; smartphones (Android, iPhone). Calls to U.S. land–lines: 3.2 cents per minute Range of service: 156 countries. Good to know: You don't have to download any software to use Jajah. Just type your phone number and the one you want to dial into your browser, and wait for the phones to ring. When you and your friend both pick up, you'll be on the call together. *Based on calls originating in the U.K.; similar rates generally apply throughout Europe. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: The Ultimate Guide to Travel Apps Travel Tips for Android and iPhone Users 10 Most Useful Travel Websites

What happens when your travel company happens to have the same name as one of the world's largest clothing retailers? Well, in the case of Gap Adventures versus Gap Inc., Gap Adventures ended up changing its name to G Adventures after losing a legal battle against the apparel giant and deciding to put an end to the courtroom warfare. Following a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Gap Inc. in which it was ruled that Gap Adventures had to change its name, Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Toronto-based Gap Adventures, said he just didn't have the energy to keep fighting Gap Inc. anymore. "We could have gone into 20 years of appeals if we wanted to. And we could have stayed Gap Adventures," Poon Tip said. "I just decided to stop fighting." In a June 24 decision in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled in favor of Gap Inc. on trademark infringement, noting that "Gap Adventures has used similar marks in commerce such that there is likelihood of confusion." Four days after the ruling, Poon Tip called the decision "unfounded," and said he would appeal. On Wednesday, he said the decision is still in the appeal process, but that the company decided to change its name anyways to put an end to legal proceedings that have cost more than $5 million. "They spent four times that. They didn’t beat us, they out-spent us," said Poon Tip, referring to Gap Inc. Once the decision was made to find a new name, Poon Tip said that the company invested heavily in brand research, but that "ultimately, we decided against all the names that we had tested … it was more of an emotional and internal decision in the end." Poon Tip said that the company looked at examples like the W hotels. "We wanted to do something innovative. We didn't want to be another travel name. It was a very tough and bold decision in the name. We wanted to own a space," he said. Regardless of what happens with the appeal, Poon Tip said he's sticking with the decision to be G Adventures, a name that will be implemented globally on Oct. 1. Poon Tip founded Gap Adventures in 1990, and the company has grown to more than 1,300 employees since. Its new website is Gadventures.com. More from Budget Travel: Green Day Incident Spurs Question: Should Airlines Enforce Dress Codes? Your Take: The Most Important Historic Places of the New Millennium Has Your Trip Ever been Saved by a Stranger?

When you’re shopping for the perfect point-and-shoot, don’t be fooled by flashy specs. In some cases, all you’re paying for is a number. Here are three key features to reconsider. DON’T MAX OUT ON MEGAPIXELS Even blown up to poster size, a 5 MP shot and its 16 MP counterpart can’t be distinguished by the human eye. Not only that, higher megapixel counts can actually work against you; they fill up your memory card faster, leaving you with fewer chances to frame just the right family portrait. A 5 MP to 8 MP model should suit average shutterbugs. FOCUS ON OPTICAL ZOOM Sure, the phrase digital zoom sounds high-tech, but it’s the optical zoom—a measure of how far the lens physically moves toward the subject—that determines the quality of an image. Always favor a more robust optical zoom (at least 3X) if you hope to land, say, sharp wildlife shots from the safety of your Jeep. INVEST IN ISO (WITHIN REASON) Candlelit restaurants and shadowy cathedrals pose challenges for point-and-shoot cameras. To make sure yours will perform well in low light, look for an ISO (or light-sensitivity rating) that goes up to 1600. Note: While there’s no real downside of having a higher ISO, anything above 1600 will be superfluous for most folks. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: 11 Fascinating Cameras Online Resource Guide: Gadgets, Gear and Travel Tech Touch-Screen Cameras

Leave dead batteries (and tangled cords) behind with these streamlined, portable power sources. 1 More Outlets, Less Mess No more forgetting your phone by that awkward plug under the hotel bed. The new AViiQ Portable Charging Station corrals all your devices inside a tidy nylon organizer and can charge three USB-equipped gadgets from a single wall socket. When it’s time to pack up, it zips into a slim 1.25" x 5" x 10.25" folder. aviiq.com, $80. 2 Power Now and Later Electronics tend to conk out at the most inconvenient times (during a hot-air balloon ride, say, or mid camel trek). That’s no problem for the pocket-size iGo Charge Anywhere. Just juice up before you leave the hotel room, then use it to boost your phone, camera, or MP3 player’s battery on the go—its replaceable tips fit dozens of devices. igo.com, $40 with one tip, extra tips from $8. 3 Let the Sun In It takes 13 hours for Samsonite’s Window Solar Charger to absorb enough rays for a full recharge, but you can start the process on the plane and finish up on the beach (or in a cafe or rental car). The 4" x 4" x .5" panel, from the luggage brand’s new travel technology line, fits most any mobile phone and has a built-in backup plan for cloudy days: a USB port for speedy, electricity-assisted charging. samsonite.com, $50, available in mid-October. 4 Extend Your Talk Time On the road, you’re more likely to use GPS-based features that strain a phone’s battery. Instead of trolling around for an outlet at every turn, outfit your handset with the PhoneSuit Elite Battery Case for iPhone 4. The compact case, with its built-in battery, can provide up to two more days of power or fully revive a dead battery in two hours—without adding bulk. phonesuit.com, $80. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Top 10 Hottest New Travel Gadgets Travelers Reveal What's in Their Bags Greyhound's New Low-Cost Buses, with Wi-Fi