No more waiting in line at the concession stand

Making calls with your cell phone while traveling abroad can be a hefty investment. Domestic carriers have a wide range of international calling plans and roaming fees that can quickly add up. But there are some alternatives coming onto the market. Canadian company Polar Wireless has come out with a "global key chip," a thin SIM card that can be inserted into most GSM (which account for more than 80 percent of the market) and some CDMA cell phones, which allows users to bypass their carrier's roaming fees. Polar Wireless' average rates are 28 cents per minute, compared to what the company claims are the average international carrier rates of $2.59 per minute. Polar Wireless subscribers with GSM devices will be able to take their phone (with their existing phone number) to 213 countries with 500 partner carrier networks. They will have access to voice, data and texting services. The company says it provides carrier grade connectivity via standard cell phone towers globally. Polar Wireless touted that one of the advantages of the global key chip over mobile services such as Skype or Google Talk is that those require Wi-fi, which is not available everywhere. Another option is getting a global phone. Tour company Big Five Tours & Expeditions has partnered with Wireless Traveler to promote Wireless Traveler's global phones, which can be purchased for between $95 and $180. With the Wireless Traveler plan, the phones work in more than 200 countries and have no monthly fees. Users are charged per call and per text. So, for example, if you're with your phone in France, an outgoing call to the U.S. costs 65 cents per minute and outgoing texts to the U.S. are 38 cents per minute. Incoming calls and texts from the U.S. to your phone in France are free. Rates vary depending on which country you're in and which country you're calling to, so it's worth comparing and doing the math compared to your carrier's calling plan. More from Budget Travel: Using Your Cell Phone in Europe What's the biggest phone bill you've ever been socked with after returning from a trip? What's the best social network for travel?

I'm not going to lie, I didn't hate "Step Up 3," the movie I selected after already watching three other not-great, not-horrible movies ("Conviction," "Never Let Me Go" and "Going the Distance," if you must know) on a recent EgyptAir flight from Cairo to JFK. if (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('c8013b13-3c98-4123-806b-d55904003b25');Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)But, it was also a flick I probably would not have watched under any circumstance other than being trapped in a seat, sleepless, for more than 10 hours, the ultimate captive audience member. In-flight entertainment options are a crucial part of our flying experience, and while mile-high WiFi and the rapidly increasing number of cinematic options on our portable devices is making the airline-provided movie choices less vital, for many passengers what's playing on the little screen in the seat in front of them is still the only available distraction. For the most part, there's a method to the airlines' madness. Their selections are, believe it or not, deliberate. American Airlines, for instance, has a movie polling site, vote.americanairlinesentertainment.com, on which passengers and employees can vote on the available upcoming selections. American then reviews the results and makes its final picks. American selects between 350 to 400 feature films per year for all its domestic and international flights (a feat that dwarfs any Netflix queue). Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic pride themselves on their in-flight entertainment options. Virgin Atlantic "is one of the few airlines to have their own in-house acquisitions team and much time, care and research goes into the monthly in-flight entertainment selection," the airline said in a statement. Each selection cycle begins six to eight weeks ahead of the playdate, according to Virgin Atlantic. "Our selection criteria takes into account each title's theatrical release date, box office success, critical acclaim and any award nominations. We also consider seasonal implications, for example, we program more children's movies during school holidays," the airline explained. Undoubtedly, Virgin has some pretty solid movie options. But had I flown Virgin rather than EgyptAir, I would never have gotten to watch the mesmerizing dance sequences in "Step Up 3," and consequently dreamt up my plan to become a break dancer. Do you look forward to in-flight movies, or dread them? Have you had any pleasant surprises? Let us know by voting in our poll or commenting below. More from Budget Travel: Southwest undercuts competition with $5 in-flight Internet Top 10 Beaches From the Movies: Photos Rating airlines: what factor matters most?

If you've spent any time in countries such as Thailand, India, Brazil, or Nigeria you've inevitably stumbled across the motorbike taxi. (With more than 20 million in operation, it is easily one of the most common taxis available in the world.) And if you've ever taken a moto-taxi, you've inevitably experienced a frustrating debate with your driver over a reasonable fare—a stressful affair that often leaves both parties dissatisfied, and lends itself to bad behavior by both tourist and driver. (Not to mention that without any regulation, you leave the fate of your location wholly at the discretion of your driver.) But haggle no more. Following eight years of research and development, Paul Giles, an American ex-pat living in Thailand and president of WorldMoto, developed the world's first motorbike taxi meter. The MotoMeter is a tamper-proof, weather resistant device that uses GPS technology to calculate taxi fares. The device also serves as a black box, recording speed, acceleration, braking information, crash force, and whether or not passengers are sitting or have been ejected from their seats. And if that weren't enough, WorldMoto has incorporated an LED "infotainment" screen to display geographically-relevant ads (e.g., nearby fast food restaurants) for the duration of the ride. The ads generate revenue for both the driver and WorldMoto. The Thai government approved a pilot program to test Moto-Metered taxis in Bangkok beginning April 21. The program will focus on tourist-rich areas like Khao San Road, Ratchadamnoen, Nana and Thong Lo. The system costs 5,599 baht per box (about $180 USD), and includes free installation. Drivers will receive the same fares as before (according to the Bangkok Post "fares are typically fixed by the co-operatives working each major intersection") plus additional revenue from advertisements. Giles hopes that his device will bring moto-taxis into greater popularity in both developing and developed countries - possibly even stateside. According to AllAboutBikes.com, Giles says that WorldMoto "[believes] that as energy prices continue to escalate, and the US population starts to rely more heavily on mass transit to escape the high oil prices, cash strapped municipalities, looking for creative ways to ease the burden on their communities, will increasingly be in favor of this highly efficient, proven way of extending the reach of mass transit into low density suburbs at next to no cost…it is only a matter of time." What are your thoughts—is this a useful product? Have you ever taken a moto-taxi? Would you like to see moto-taxis operate in the States? — Madeline Grimes MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: How to Haggle Like an Expert Do You Love Public Transportation as Much as These Guys? NYC Launches New Taxi Sharing Service

The economics of it make sense, but it just inherently seems like adding insult to injury when companies charge single supplements. So, when an upscale travel company like Abercrombie & Kent says it's going to waive or reduce single supplements by up to 75%, singles of the world can breathe an appreciative "thank you" to the travel universe. First off, solo travelers, you aren't alone. Well, you are, but you're not. Last year, solo travelers made up 10 percent of all A&K;'s bookings. Hence, A&K; is offering more than 30 "solo savings" departures on several of its more popular itineraries. The trips that now have no single supplement on select departures include: the 11-day Snows of Kilimanjaro (from $5,340, single supplement was $945); the 10-day Tanzania Wildlife Discovery (from $5,650, single supplement was $530); the 11-day Wings Over Kenya (from $8,775, single supplement was $1,625); and the 11-day Egypt Unveiled (from $5,165, single supplement was $1,380). A&K; also reduced the single supplement on select departures of its 12-day Highlights of China tour (from $5,475 + $945 single supplement, was $1,890); and its 13-day Turkey: A Journey Through History itinerary (from $9,975 + $951 single supplement, was $3,805). Singles Travel International also has some affordable options for single travelers in the form of their Weekend Sample Tours. The short, two- and three-day getaways are to closer-to-home destinations like Nashville, Vegas and the Bahamas. "The weekend tours are the perfect 'mini vacations' to try solo travel without a big commitment," said Tammy Weiler, founder and president of Singles Travel International. Examples include a Fourth of July Party Cruise, July 1-4, 2011, to the Bahamas from Miami on the Majesty of the Seas, which includes private STI parties, and singles-only dinner seating (starts at only $479 per person); and Musical Nashville Weekend, May 27-30, 2011, which includes three nights accommodations, meals and live music (starts from $759 per person). Who said there was anything wrong with being single? More from Budget Travel: Going It Alone River cruise deals: 2 for 1 specials, no single supplements, and more Solo travel: Avoid getting "singled out" for fees on cruise ships