Travel briefs: It's sunglasses season

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.

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.