Shades of gray – in sunglasses
As summer driving season approaches, remember to don sunglasses. Opt for a close-fitting pair with large lenses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. The Mayo Clinic's website suggests that drivers wear gray-tinted glasses to see traffic lights correctly.
new york times
Waiting is the hardest part
According to this year's J.D. Power airline satisfaction report, a survey of 11,370 travelers, satisfaction with an airline was 41 points lower if the flier had to wait 15 minutes or longer to get a boarding pass, compared with those who waited less. Satisfaction also dropped for those who had to wait for luggage.
los angeles times
Book scores with World Cup fans
Fodor's has released a new Brazil guidebook featuring a special section on planning a trip to the upcoming World Cup. Matches will take place in 12 cities between June 12-July 13.
Kerri Westenberg
Travel trend
One visa, three East African countries
Visas have long vexed travelers to many African countries; they can be pricey and require tedious forms. For those planning to visit multiple countries, it can mean weeks of shuffling a passport from one consulate to another — or facing longer lines at border crossings. Now Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have introduced the East Africa Tourist Visa, which allows multiple entries among the three countries for a period of 90 days for $100 — nice for visitors who want to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda and go on a safari in Kenya. (The U.S. State Department recently updated its travel warning for Kenya, saying that risk in the country varies by region.) Applications should be submitted to the consulate of the country where initial entry will be made. Single-entry visas are still available at a lower cost for those with an itinerary for just one country.
New York Times
Hotel check-in
Luxury hotel splashes down in Miami
When it opened in March, the Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach, became the first U.S. presence of the upscale COMO brand. (Other locations include London, Bangkok and Turks & Caicos.) Most rooms at this quiet hotel have a water view — either of the ocean or Lake Pancoast. Perks include spa, rooftop hydrotherapy pool, ground-level pool adjacent to the ocean and onsite Traymore Restaurant and Bar. (Summer rates start at $319; 1-305-695-3588; www.comohotels.com/metropolitanmiamibeach.)
Miami herald
Deal of the week
Land of 10,000 early-summer deals
Book a cabin at Crow Wing Crest Lodge June 14-21 and get 10 percent off the price of the cabin (www.crowwing.com). Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge's "Secret Summer Deals" include a range of offers, such as June 22-23 lodge rooms for $95, compared with the usual nightly rate of $160 (www.ruttgers.com). Through June 21, every cabin at Ludlow's Island Resort goes for $265 a night for two during the week, even the ones that in the height of summer cost $700 a night (www.ludlowsresort.com). Find more deals at www.exploreminnesota.com.
Kerri Westenberg
Live video of man who set himself on fire outside court proves challenging for news organizations
