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The chairman of Forbes Travel Guide is digital media pioneer Jeff Arnold, who is the visionary behind Forbes Travel Guide and the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Sharecare, a digital health company he founded with Dr. Mehmet Oz that helps people manage all their health in one place.

In 2005, Arnold purchased the rights to Mobil Travel Guide, a well-known series of regional guidebooks that Mobil Oil had published since 1958. The guides provided independent ratings of hotels, motels and restaurants in North America. Arnold had the vision to transform the collection into a digital guide and globalize the Star Rating system, with a focus on luxury hospitality. By 2009, he evolved Mobil Travel Guide to Forbes Travel Guide, in partnership with Forbes Media LLC.

Prior to founding Sharecare and Forbes Travel Guide, Arnold was chairman and CEO of HowStuffWorks.com, an award-winning online resource used by millions of people each month, which he sold to Discovery Communications, where he served as chief digital strategy officer, as well as chief architect of The Curiosity Project until December 2011.

In 1998, he founded and served as CEO of WebMD, the first healthcare company to harness the power of the Internet to create a unified destination for consumers, healthcare institutions and physicians to find trustworthy medical information. Prior to WebMD, Jeff founded Quality Diagnostic Services (QDS), a cardiac arrhythmia monitoring company, one of the first companies to use the concept of telemedicine over 25 years ago.

Arnold has been honored for his innovative contributions to media, technology and healthcare, including the 2016 Blumenthal Award by Johns Hopkins University which recognized his exceptional ability to bridge business and technology. Additionally, he was inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, as an Honorary Member for his superior achievements and contributions to the advancement of nursing and health care on both a national and global level. Arnold also has been honored by the World Economic Forum; inducted into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia; named Entrepreneur of the Year, Southeast Region by Ernst & Young; and received the prestigious Phoenix Award, which recognizes companies and individuals who embody strength, tenacity and leadership in Georgia’s healthcare information technology industry.

A well-respected, widely traveled, and assured leader in luxury hospitality, Hermann Elger brings a wealth of expertise and 30 years of global experience to his role as the chief executive officer of Forbes Travel Guide.

Serving most recently as executive vice president of travel, entertainment, and health security at digital health leader Sharecare, he led the successful launch of Sharecare’s health security verification program in partnership with Forbes Travel Guide, which now covers thousands of properties globally.

Prior to Sharecare, Elger was the managing director of Baccarat Hotel New York and chief operating officer of Baccarat Hotels and Resorts, leading the development of new properties and overseeing day-to-day operations and quality guest experiences for the flagship hotel. As general manager, he led Baccarat Hotel New York to its first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award in 2018.

Elger has also served as general manager at other renowned Five-Star hotels across North America, including The St. Regis New York, Montage Beverly Hills (now The Maybourne Beverly Hills), and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun. In nearly 18 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, he supported the development of new hotels as an opening team leader for The Ritz-Carlton Aspen Highlands, Philadelphia, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Elger followed his father into the hotel industry and earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Denver. From his humble beginnings as a doorman for The Brown Hotel in Denver, Colorado, this second-generation hotelier has established himself as an accomplished and innovative hospitality leader. His talents are recognized with honors including “Best GM in US and Canada” in the Travvy Awards and “Most Innovative GM” by American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts, both awarded in 2016. Elger also was named one of the “40 Most Influential Leaders in Tourism in Mexico” by Lideres magazine.

Executive Leadership

As Chief Financial Officer, Tony Hounshell brings 25 years of executive leadership experience to work in guiding Forbes Travel Guide's overall financial strategy. His department oversees a breadth of functions, including accounting, finance, treasury and tax; financial planning, analysis and corporate development; human resources; and investor relations.

Hounshell began his career in public accounting at a Big Four firm, later moving into advisory services at that firm and other global consultancies. His advisory experience spans forensic, transaction, risk management and performance improvement services. He regularly assisted boards of directors, audit committees, management and their legal counsel to address significant and complex matters. Hounshell has worked in more than 25 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He is a Certified Public Accountant and an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As Director of Ratings, Kaitlyn Jahelka oversees the compilation of Ratings data that determines the annual list of Star Award winners and manages global expansion planning, determining the best new properties and destinations to be Star Rated. Working alongside the Vice President, Ratings, Jahelka is responsible for providing recommendations and input to the President of Ratings. Jahelka also plays an integral role in the annual standards revisions process and provides expertise and consultation on standards applications.

Beginning at Forbes Travel Guide in 2012, Jahelka held various roles in Evaluation Operations and Reporting, including as a full-time evaluator, before joining the Ratings team in 2018. She has stayed in more than 200 luxury hotels across 40 countries and six continents, developing a deep understanding of trends in the global hospitality industry and today’s luxury guest.

Global Ambassadors

Before joining Forbes Travel Guide, Boyen served as CEO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, overseeing a portfolio of more than 520 exceptional independent hotels in 80 countries.

Prior to that post, the Belgium native spent 18 years with Orient-Express, the famed precursor to the Belmond brand. Joining the hospitality company as general manager of Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in Tahiti, he rose to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of Orient-Express. In between, various roles included Group Vice President Operations; Regional Vice President, Africa, Australia & Latin America; and Managing Director, Hotels & Trains.

Boyen began his hospitality career as a commis chef and stayed in the food and beverage side of the business for 10 years, working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium, France and England. He even did a stint under French master chef Joël Robuchon.

For more than 20 years, Hervé Houdré has been one of the foremost advocates of sustainable hospitality, a term that he coined in the early 2000s. Houdré established the model for sustainable luxury during his time managing distinguished properties such as Hôtel Plaza Athénée, New York; Hôtel de Crillon and Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris; Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C.; and during his tenure as the chief operating officer for Kempinski Hotels.

Houdré’s efforts and passion to promote sustainability in his industry have been highlighted across a wide spectrum of media in the U.S. and abroad. He was recognized as the 2006 Independent Hotelier of the World by HOTELS magazine readers, and his leadership earned him the 2009 Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award, the D.C. Downtown Citizen honor and the D.C. Chamber of Commerce 2009 award.

Matthieu Yamoum serves as Forbes Travel Guide's Global Ambassador of Wine, sharing his deeply informed perspective in the wine and hospitality industries.

Raised among the vines in France’s Champagne region, Yamoum applied his innate passion for champagne to his career. As the wine director of Baccarat Hotel New York, he curated one of the world's most extensive champagne menus.

Yamoum released his own champagne with Piper-Heidsieck in 2020 and launched an innovative concept wine store, Maison MURA, in Miami in 2022 to rave reviews.

He is a member of the Jurade of Saint-Émilion, the Confraria do Vinho do Porto and the Sommelier Society of America, and is certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Partner Services & Industry Outreach

An industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry, Richard Lebowitz is building awareness of Star Rated hotels across the global luxury travel advisor community.

Lebowitz spent nearly 25 years with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in various leadership positions, including his last role as regional vice-president of luxury, lifestyle and leisure of North America for the global sales office. He later served as senior vice president, hotel and resort program at Signature Travel Network, a member-owned travel agency cooperative serving more than 7,000 travel advisors and 1,000 hotel and resort global partners. Most recently, Lebowitz was vice president of strategic partnerships at Sharecare and rolled out the VERIFIED™ health security program to the hotel and travel industry.

During his 15-plus-year career in luxury hospitality, Francisco Almeida served as the communications and hospitality manager at Aveleda Winery, global brand and sales manager at Monnet Cognac, and brand home manager at Bacardi. He also directed Forbes Travel Guide’s Center for Excellence in Cognac, France. In his latest role, Almeida oversees markets in Southern Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. 

Working as a guest relations hostess and tour guide at Disneyland during college sparked a lifelong interest in hospitality for Veden. She eventually found a home with Marriott International, leading in various disciplines and representing all 30 brands in the company’s portfolio.

As a national recruiter and global director of Marriott’s University Relations and Property Management Staffing team, she partnered with academic institutions across the country and led a group that developed 8,000 college graduates and interns to work across Marriott brands. Veden helped design and implement the award-winning Global Voyager Leadership Development Program, to prepare the next generation of Marriott leaders.

Most recently, Veden was the director of Learning & Engagement at The Broadmoor, where she led training initiatives for the longest-running Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel.

Learning & Development

William Avitia’s passion for the hospitality industry led him into human resources and training early in his career. He has worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties across the United States. As Director of Human Resources at The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Avitia developed an intensive seasonal staffing and training strategy thoughtfully aligned with brand and luxury standards. Most recently, Avitia worked with IHG Hotels & Resorts developing branded and operational service solutions that scaled across 16 brands globally.

Avitia is a certified Property Service Culture Trainer, and has certified other trainers as Service Culture Champions as well as led leadership simulations in region. He holds a degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where he focused on special operations. Avitia plays an active alumnus role for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. He trains in both English and Spanish.

Josh Santos is a dynamic service culture evolution facilitator with over 25 years of hospitality experience and a strong emphasis on hotel operations and training. Having served extensively in leadership roles across a broad spectrum of brands and property types, he has developed a deep-rooted understanding of what it means to own the guest relationship and keen insights on how to effectively approach individual hotel training needs.

His career began at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, and then he joined Starwood Hotels, leading within rooms and food and beverage divisions and overseeing hotel department openings. While there, Santos eventually became a service culture trainer. Later, he took positions like director of rooms for The Beverly Hilton and regional director of training for Loews Hotels.

Since joining Forbes Travel Guide in 2017, Santos has trained in more than 20 countries across five continents. As Director of Learning and Development, he oversees the integration of new trainers and implements programs for the continued advancement of the Learning and Development team.

He is fluent in English and French.

With a history of leading human resources and training operations for luxury brands across the Americas, Vivian Liberman knows what it takes to build exceptional teams that deliver unparalleled service in the hospitality industry.

Liberman's passion for coaching toward extraordinary service began in her role as a training manager for Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena during the brand's transition, implementing butler service and luxury sales training that emphasized the story of the historic property. Liberman continued to lend her expertise, helping train newly hired staff teams in standards, customer service and behavioral-based interviewing.

She later served as a corporate training specialist at Sofitel and Accor Hotels and administered corporate and management development training. While there, Liberman focused on developing a leadership cultivation program that facilitated the transition of line-level talent to supervisory and middle-management roles. She has previously served at Forbes Travel Guide as an inspector, lending her immense insight into the company’s quality standards.

Luxury hospitality expert Clarita Parra has a successful history of building and managing engaged, high-performing teams and helping them implement the Forbes Travel Guide standards. In addition, she spent a decade in leadership positions at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company's room division, where she gained critical executive operational experience.

Parra designed the training and development curriculum plans that achieved The Ritz-Carlton America's highest honors for excellence in productivity, guest engagement, cleanliness and profitability. Her leadership at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay helped the property earn the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star award in 2020.

Most recently, Parra served as the director of operations at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. She has also lent her guidance as a trainer for various openings within the Marriott International umbrella, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain; The Barcelona EDITION; and The West Hollywood EDITION. Parra is fluent in English and Spanish

With over a decade of luxury hotel experience, and two years as an Executive Trainer at Forbes Travel Guide, Summer Xiang has demonstrated her impressive ability to inspire properties to create exceptional experiences for guests and achieve their goals.

Driven by her dedication to delivering exceptional guest service, she became the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong's youngest management team member after only one year of management training. She attributes her strong product knowledge, frontline service and management skills to the rotation experiences at this flagship property.

Xiang transferred to Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai and transitioned into the learning and development field ––– leading successful corporate and tailor-made, local-focused training programs and employee recognition activities. During her tenure as the quality assurance manager, Xiang focused on operational training while overseeing the guest experience team, significantly improving the hotel's key guest experience metrics. She eventually moved back into food and beverage operations and held the role of food and beverage manager in charge of six outlets. Xiang held the same role at Fairmont Chengdu before joining Forbes Travel Guide.

Glenda Barnatan is a seasoned hospitality professional with substantial experience developing and leading teams at luxury hotels and resorts. Her background covers all aspects of food and beverage, as well as rooms division departments including housekeeping and guest services.

Barnatan began her career at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples working in conference services and banquets, and later became food and beverage supervisor at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. For more than a decade following, she led in food and beverage and other management leadership roles at glamorous properties including 1 Hotel South Beach, Acqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach, Baccarat New York, and The Hermitage Hotel. She is a passionate coach; stays upbeat, positive, and shares a warm smile. Barnatan is trilingual in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

Joseph Barron joins Forbes Travel Guide with more than 10 years of experience in management roles across MGM Resorts International, which instilled a passion for creating memorable guest experiences through authentic interactions across all luxury hotel sectors.

Barron began his career at the Bellagio Las Vegas, where he held various leadership roles within hotel operations and rapidly expanded his knowledge of hospitality management. As hotel operations manager for Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Skylofts at MGM Grand, Barron managed all hotel operations, including concierge, butler, housekeeping and bell and door services, ensuring each department maintained its stellar standing.

As senior hotel operations manager, Barron oversaw all MGM Grand’s luxury areas, including Skylofts, The Mansion private residences, the Estate Dining Room and the hotel’s VIP Lounge.

Throughout all of his personal endeavors, he has also encouraged and developed the professional growth of his many team members, from entry-level staffers to resort managers and directors.

At Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Bernal led the high-paced front desk team to create memorable moments through individual guest interactions.

He went on to serve as hotel operations manager and guest relations manager for The NoMad Hotel in Las Vegas. In these roles, Bernal oversaw departments such as front desk, concierge, guest services, bellmen and door attendants, ensuring everyone worked cohesively to foster brand awareness and guest loyalty.

Then Bernal joined ARIA Sky Suites, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa as the luxury operations learning partner. He trained, developed and grew an 8,000-member team, ensuring every employee received proper training that maintained Forbes Travel Guide standards, excellence in service delivery and guest satisfaction.

Bernal's approachability enables him to forge meaningful connections with team members, allowing him to deliver impactful coaching and support that empower staff to create lasting impressions.

Most recently, Blagg was a front office manager at The US Grant, A Luxury Collection Hotel, where she spearheaded Marriott’s Breakthrough Leadership Training program and boosted company morale. She played an integral role in rebuilding her team, fostering growth for those new to the world of luxury. Additionally, Blagg was elected as the field trainer for Marriott’s Brand and Service Excellence program, which featured a select group that focused on elevating guest service excellence throughout Marriott’s luxury portfolio. She received recognition for her efforts as a nominee for Marriott’s Awards of Excellence in 2022.

Earlier in her nearly decade-long career, Blagg took on housekeeping and front office operations management roles at JW Marriott Chicago. Following the pandemic, her knowledge of both departments led to her success in a united rooms operation team as Chicago reopened to guests with limited resources.

Blagg’s upbringing in Tokyo has instilled in her a sense of appreciation for diverse cultures, and she is fluent in English and Japanese.

Samira Charbonnier has built long-standing relationships in the hospitality industry by consistently demonstrating strong influence skills and success in coaching multi-cultural teams. She spent a decade offering expertise in advisory, operations and international training efforts while serving as director of learning and development for global hospitality consulting firm Minds in Motion SA.

Charbonnier worked with international consulting and real estate investment banking firms PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Eastdil Secured as an adviser focused on hotel development, marketing and sales. Prior to that, she spent four years as food and beverage manager at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the United States and Canada. Charbonnier has a deeply-rooted passion for coaching and is a certified Quality Coach for the Swiss Tourism Federation, a qualification based on Six Sigma principles. She also has a Masters in Management of Hospitality from The Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.

Nicholas Chow brings 15 years of international experience in luxury hotels, leading culturally diverse teams in achieving service excellence with a guest-centric approach.

Chow began his career at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong and followed that with 12 years at The Peninsula Hotels group in various room division leadership roles spanning three metropolitan cities: Hong Kong, New York and Tokyo.

At Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Peninsula Tokyo, Chow helped teams create elevated guest experiences in his roles as guest experience manager and later assistant head of front office.   His meticulous, passionate personality led to his appointment as a first-generation trainer of Peninsula Service Principles, where he assisted in implementing the brand's guest engagement guidelines at the Tokyo property.

In February 2023, Chow was hand-selected as an opening task force member at The Peninsula Istanbul, where he successfully established a solid foundation for personalizing guest journeys.

Chow's global experience has allowed him to develop a genuine understanding of diversity. In addition to his native Cantonese, Chow is fluent in English, Mandarin and Japanese.

Collins held leadership positions with Relais & Châteaux, where she developed the skillset necessary to work with boutique properties, such as Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Point in New York's Adirondacks.

She then joined world-renowned Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, leading the guest experience team at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York City, where she implemented training initiatives that helped maintain its Four-Star rating. Collins also served as task force director of guest experience for the Five-Star Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos.

Collins' meticulous attention to detail and dedication to excellence shine through her training. Her personalized coaching style and ability to connect with people foster an inspirational and positive environment.

In 12 years, Michael Conte successfully led three Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star spas in California. In addition to his work with these incredible resorts, he served on the FTG Standards Advisory Committee in 2018 and 2019. Conte has always had a passion for training and creating exceptional guest experiences.

When it opened in 2008, The Spa at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach garnered a Five-Star rating, with Conte serving as an integral part of the team. At Montage Laguna Beach, he served as executive director of spa for more than four years and was honored to be a part of the leadership team when the resort was awarded the coveted triple Five-Star rating for hotel, restaurant and spa. As executive director of spa and wellness for Meadowood Napa Valley, Conte opened the new all-suite spa, quickly receiving a Five-Star honor. He was instrumental in revamping and running the resort employee onboarding program, which led to the resort achieving a triple Five-Star award.

Conte combines this experience with creativity in his work as an Executive Trainer for Forbes Travel Guide.

Marco Coppola brings a decade of experience leading teams to create memorable guest experiences at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Rated properties.

Coppola’s hospitality career began in Rome at the Hotel Eden’s front desk before his promotion to Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan’s Guest Relations Manager. In this role, he successfully led the team to implement strategies to enhance guest engagement and satisfaction.

Later, Coppola was promoted to Operations Manager at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, followed by a promotion to the role of Creative Planning Manager. Coppola led the team dedicated to personalizing guest experiences, creating the foundation of exceptional service property wide.

Coppola’s passion for creating a memorable guest experience led him to join Forbes Travel Guide as an evaluator, lending him invaluable knowledge of the application of the Forbes Travel Guest standards in 18 different countries. As an evaluator, Coppola led post-evaluation service-focused debriefs with hotel leaders, providing detailed feedback on the property’s strengths and areas for growth.

Coppola excels at delivering unforgettable service at luxury hotels and creating an engaging learning atmosphere.

Gokani spent six years in management positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, successfully implementing regulatory compliance across her departments, conducting weekly standards testing and participating in Forbes Travel Guide training to deliver service of the highest caliber.

She further broadened her industry experience at Chandon, part of LVMH, assisting the team as it rebranded, resulting in elevated offerings and service. She then worked for Forbes Travel Guide Brand Official LATHER, building and maintaining relations with multiple properties and providing luxury wellness in-room amenities to enhance the guest experience.

Gokani has created step-by-step training guides, standard operating procedures and foundational materials for inaugural roles. Her attention to detail, empathetic listening, interactive management style and passion for improving the guest experience help her guide teams to excel in luxury.

McCord Henry has passionately led food and beverage teams for over two decades, endowing him with hands-on experience in all food and beverage areas.

Henry began his hospitality career working for Eureka! Restaurant Group in Seattle. He then moved to Baltimore and held a succession of leadership roles at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, including pool department head and assistant and food and beverage manager for the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel’s fine dining establishment.

As director of food and beverage outlets for the opening of Four-Star Pendry Manhattan West, he led in-room dining operations and all banquet events. During his tenure, Henry partnered with a third-party restaurant group to implement Forbes Travel Guide’s service standards.

When selected to join Montage International’s task force, Henry assisted in opening Pendry Chicago, Washington DC – The Wharf and Newport Beach. He provided essential training for food and beverage efforts at Montage Big Sky and Five-Star Montage Kapalua Bay. Henry created the steps of service for meal periods for Montage International’s opening properties and trained new hires throughout the company’s portfolio.

Susan Hyde has worked in hospitality for more than two decades. Hyde began her career in food and beverage operations for Caesars Entertainment, where she held leadership positions in bar/lounge, in-room dining, banquets, catering and restaurants.

Later, she became the director of quality assurance at Norwegian Cruise Line. She oversaw the team that developed the company’s brand standards program, Norwegian Platinum Standards, which enabled it to obtain ISO 9001 Certification (a quality classification administered by the International Organization for Standardization).

Hyde also spent four years with the Luxury Quality team at Marriott International, where she led efforts to facilitate process-improvement projects and training to better the guest experience while driving operational results across the Americas.

In addition, Hyde contributed to the textbook, Operations Management in the Hospitality Industry, and is a certified Green and Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in hospitality from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

When she was a front office manager with Hilton Hotels & Resorts and guest services manager with Loews Hotels & Co., both teams ranked at the top of their respective brands for guest satisfaction and arrival experience. At Loews Kansas City Hotel, Muller pivoted from a rooms division leadership position to teaching brand standards. She led the retraining of the front office team at the brand’s legacy resort in Arizona and opened Loews Coral Gables Hotel as task force director of rooms. Known for her command of brand standards and ability to teach quality service, she represented 26 properties and the customer engagement center on a committee for leaders working on elevating the guest experience and promoting property productivity.

Muller brings her keen eye for detail, coaching management style, passion for service and comprehensive understanding of training to Forbes Travel Guide.

Gregory Ng is a passionate and guest-centered hospitality leader with over a decade of well-rounded operational and managerial experience in renowned luxury hotels globally. Ng's extensive food and beverage expertise includes fine dining, bars, lounges, all-day-dining operations, banqueting and in-room dining.

As part of Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Ng focused on its clubs and properties portfolio, eventually becoming assistant operations manager at The Repulse Bay Hong Kong. In the United States, Ng directed the food and beverage team at The Peninsula New York and served as The Peninsula Chicago's interim department head as part of a task force.

Ng returned to Asia to lead Sir Elly's restaurant and bar team at The Peninsula Shanghai's fine-dining outlet. Ng later became the food and beverage director of the wellness hospitality group Octave Institute. He championed its food and beverage transformation program and other new initiatives in the group's Shanghai portfolio.

Ng's wealth of knowledge and experience in operations allows him to excel at tailoring training programs to suit a brand's culture.

She held learning and development roles for world-renowned luxury brands and properties, including The St. Regis Mexico City, Rosewood Mayakoba, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Resort.

In 2018, Orezza joined Montage Los Cabos’ executive team for its opening and subsequently took leadership positions for property openings and task force teams for Pendry Park City, Pendry Manhattan West, Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf and Montage Deer Valley.

Next, Orezza joined Montage’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy group to guide and implement the practices for Montage Laguna Beach and Montage Kapalua Bay. Most recently, as director of learning and sustainability, she led Montage Los Cabos’ sustainability strategy.

Orezza approaches developing, auditing and implementing standards, procedures and learning initiatives with remarkable passion, thoughtfulness and thorough attention to detail.

Ewan Riccio-Laing's talent for creating luxury guest experiences began at the age of thirteen while working in a small Scottish countryside restaurant. Riccio-Laing has excelled in various operational and training roles throughout his two-decade hospitality career.

Riccio-Laing moved into the front office with Marriott International before setting sail with Disney Cruise Line as a guest relations manager. He realized his passion for training and joined Disney's human resources team, training cast and crew across the high seas.

Riccio-Laing became learning and development manager for Genting Casinos, UK, reimagining their company-wide service culture and building a digital leadership and career development platform that supported staff across the company's 42 casinos, including some of the world's most prestigious high-roller clubs.

Returning to the seas as fleet director of service excellence for Celebrity Cruise's global fleet, Riccio-Laing supported shipboard teams in adopting Forbes Travel Guide standards to become the world's first officially star-rated cruise line.

Riccio-Laing uses his passion for hospitality to deliver engaging, memorable training experiences and shares his vast operational knowledge with Forbes Travel Guide partners.

With nearly a decade of experience in leading operational teams at Forbes Travel Guide Star-Rated properties, Judit Sipos brings first-hand knowledge in training employees to deliver personalized service and memorable guest experiences.

Sipos’ previous trainer assignments within Marriott International Luxury Brands (MILUX) — including The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong; JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus; and JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh — demonstrate her cultural fluency and understanding of the needs of properties in the pre-opening phase.

She started her career heading up the guest experience team of The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, where, after various leadership positions, she was promoted to training and quality manager. Next, she transferred to the same position at The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, where she developed training programs and mentored newly hired quality managers in Europe and the Middle East within the MILUX group.

Sipos attributes her success to her empathy, ability to engage and inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds and abundant professional experience.

She is fluent in English and Hungarian.

Susan Wang brings 15 years of hospitality experience at Marriott International and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to her role as an executive trainer. She attributes her success to her passion for creating memorable customer experiences, training and developing staff service standards and driving strategic execution plans to achieve goals.

Wang's career began as a front desk trainee and soon held room division leadership roles in Sydney hotels. At Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, she earned the highest room upsell revenue globally and increased staff engagement by over 30 percent at Pier One Sydney Harbour.

In 2018, Wang held the position of director of loyalty operations in Marriott International's Hong Kong corporate office and launched Marriott Bonvoy's loyalty program across 24 brands and over 800 hotels. As director, she facilitated in-person and virtual training workshops to deliver a shared vision for the loyalty program and encourage member engagement across 16 Asian-Pacific markets – leading the continent to attain No. 1 in new member sign-ups globally while maintaining the highest member appreciation satisfaction score across all continents.

Gayani Wasalathanthri’s formative years in Sri Lanka informed her commitment to upholding her culture’s value of hospitality throughout her nearly two-decades-long career.

Wasalathanthri got her start in guest services at various properties in Sri Lanka, including Galle Face Hotel, the country’s oldest property, and Taj hotel group, executing a rebranding of one of its properties and implementing new business strategies.

Next, Wasalathanthri began developing her passion for leadership as a corporate trainer at Crown & Champa Resorts, guiding her team to deliver luxury hospitality standards. She then joined Marriott’s flagship W resort, W Maldives, providing essential learning and development support aligned with the brand’s distinctive style of luxury hospitality. During her time at Marriott, Wasalathanthri also received certifications that allowed her to conduct service-related training and employee career development across the brand.

Most recently, Wasalathanthri held the position of director of human resources at Bandos Maldives. In this role, she directed business strategy and supported employees at all levels, including performance management and career development.

Service & Quality Development

Before joining Forbes Travel Guide, Silvia Nauta worked in some of the best hotels in the world. Nauta began her career at the iconic Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane and held various management roles in both housekeeping and front office departments. She later took the front office manager position at Acqualina Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles, Florida, where she concentrated on standardizing quality delivery in the division and developing a service program for the residential component of the resort.

Nauta served as guest relations manager on the pre-opening management team at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Later as learning and development manager there, she focused on the hotel’s vision of obtaining three Forbes Travel Guide Five-Stars, which was achieved in 2012. As director of training at The Breakers Palm Beach, she was integral in establishing the training department and company service quality cycle and restructuring the overall service focus. Nauta’s latest appointment was at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, where she held the role of director of human resources and strategic planning. 

Working at The Ritz London and Hotel Plaza Athénée Paris equipped her with the knowledge required to create and implement new learning initiatives informed by the highest level of luxury service.

Most recently, Van Elsalande served as Baccarat Hotel New York’s director of food and beverage. Her oversight and dedication to quality and excellence in guest service contributed to Baccarat Hotel New York obtaining its Five-Star award in 2017, just two years after opening.

In every role, Van Elslande established a culture of best practices by emphasizing service requirements as a means of top performance and has proved herself instrumental in leading hospitality teams in applying Forbes Travel Guide standards.

Gabriela Manjarres’ 19 years of experience leading and developing luxury hospitality teams has only deepened an innate ability to inspire and develop generations of hoteliers.

Manjarres expanded her knowledge and grew her career within roles across the rooms division and operations as guest services manager at The Westin Diplomat & Resort, leader of the front office team at The St. Regis Atlanta and assistant director of rooms at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa.

Most recently, Manjarres worked as a learning and development manager with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. This position allowed her to spearhead the development and execution of training in Latin America and the United States, deliver customized training sessions in partnership with property-specific needs and provide training solutions for various brands, including pre-opening and transitions.

She brings this guest-centered and detailed training approach to all properties within the Forbes Travel Guide community.

Operations & Engagement

As Senior Vice President, Evaluation Operations, Theresa Tellock oversees the quality, execution and delivery of evaluations. She supervises Forbes Travel Guide’s international team of evaluators, is responsible for upholding the integrity and accuracy of the evaluation process and manages the complex logistics behind the global evaluation schedule.

With the company since 2011, Tellock held several operational roles related to producing reports reflective of the luxury guest experience. She developed custom standards for clients across a variety of verticals, including airlines, golf courses, private residences, medical practices and luxury retail. Tellock personally executed hundreds of evaluations at hotels, restaurants and spas around the world, making her an authority on global luxury standards and the evaluation process.

As the vice president/executive editor at Forbes Travel Guide, Jennifer Kester oversees the editorial department. Kester covers everything that touches upon luxury travel — food and drink, culture, wellness and, of course, hotels. She has visited hundreds of luxury hotels, and her travels have brought her everywhere from Toronto to Tallinn to Tokyo to Tasmania during her more than two-decades-long career. One of the leading hospitality journalists, Kester has been an editor and writer for Forbes Travel Guide since 2008, serving as executive editor since 2015.

As the Director of Client Success, Amy Zeller is focused on driving client experience and engaging with Forbes Travel Guide clients to address their needs. She also oversees the team and systems FTG uses to communicate with clients.

Zeller is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with an extensive background in partner engagement, sales and marketing, operational systems, and product and project management. She has been with Forbes Travel Guide for more than seven years and has shaped all aspects of supporting clients with the graciousness, expertise and responsiveness for which FTG is known.

Center for Excellence

Before overseeing Forbes Travel Guide’s Center for Excellence at Le Logis, Philippe Abraham spent 10-plus years in the cruise and hospitality industries. Abraham rose through the ranks of Club Med, serving as general manager for properties in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan. He then advanced to his position as director of product and development for Club Med China, successfully integrating the brand into the Chinese market and working with the local government to develop tourism in the region.

In Abraham’s following role as the director of the Club Med Cruises Department, he oversaw all operations, ensuring the passenger experience met luxury hospitality standards.

Afterward, Abraham, a passionate enologist, lent his expertise to the wine and spirits industry as a consultant.

Ksenia Mauxion supports guests and groups planning to visit Le Logis and Forbes Travel Guide's Center for Excellence . Prior to FTG, Mauxion served for four years as team leader at Le Logis for Grey Goose (the Center for Excellence’s predecessor), overseeing the property’s operational and commercial sectors. She was previously a trilingual tour guide and then manager of the team at The Royal Chateau of Cognac.  

Bastien Gardrat offers 10 years of experience in the spirit industry, working for brands like the Martell cognac house. The bartender and educator served in client-facing roles—crafting cocktails and leading tastings and hosting events as Bacardi’s Head Bartender—and as a consultant for a variety of spirit companies, designing drink and spirit digital marketing strategies and growing brand awareness. Learn more about the Center for Excellence at Le Logis here.

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Leadership Team

Joseph Traina

Chairman & Co-Founder  

Chairman and founder Joseph Traina established InteleTravel in 1991 as the first-ever host travel agency. His visionary approach led to the creation of a new travel category and online business model that provides people with part-time opportunities and full-time careers in selling travel from their own home. Today, host agencies make up a substantial part of the distribution of travel while InteleTravel continues leading the way as the oldest and largest at-home agency with over 70,000 independent travel agents around the world.  

James Ferrara

President & Co-Founder

James Ferrara is an InteleTravel founder and a recognized travel industry leader and expert. As president, Ferrara leads a talented team responsible for all areas of travel operations, travel product development, travel partner relationships, and the support, education, and nurturing of travel advisors. He serves on advisory boards for leading travel organizations, including the Cruise Lines International Association, and routinely speaks on technology and trends in travel, the home-based travel agent revolution, and the future of the travel industry.  

Tara Minson  

Executive Vice President

With more than 25 years of experience as a strategic marketing and communications leader, Tara Minson guides InteleTravel's overall marketing strategy. Since joining InteleTravel in 2008, she has produced programs and events that have earned multiple Travel Weekly Magellan Awards. Minson is also a board member of Women Leading in Travel & Hospitality and a member of Apple Leisure Group Vacations' advisory board.  

David Spinelli  

Senior Vice President of Industry Relations

Dave Spinelli is an accomplished leader in leisure travel sales, partner relations, and agency distribution with over 30 years of travel industry experience, including tenures at Travel Leaders Network and Vacation.com. As Vice President of Industry Relations, he has spearheaded InteleTravel's double-digit annual growth in preferred partner sales and the number of affiliated travel agents since joining in 2017. Spinelli is also on the advisory board of American Airlines Vacations.  

Dayna Jordan  

Vice President of Operations  

Dayna Jordan is a travel operations veteran who has managed customer service call centers, 24-hour emergency support teams, and the training of highly skilled reservation agents for some of the industry’s leading brands, like ATPI, McCord Travel Management, and The Vacation Store. She is responsible for the management of InteleTravel’s international support team, the commissions department, and the development of business processes and technology solutions to support the success of the company’s advisors.  

Jessica Deverson  

Vice President of Travel Marketing  

Jessica Deverson has been developing travel product and consumer marketing campaigns and programs for over a decade at Online Vacation Center and Expedia Cruise Ship Centers. Since joining InteleTravel, Deverson has enhanced its client database, data collection, and analysis to fuel precise travel marketing. She also developed and launched a powerful new customer relationship management tool for agents, email marketing programs, and a popular consumer-facing webinar series. Deverson’s latest initiative is the packaging of new highly competitive and exclusive cruise vacations featuring air travel, hotel stays, and other added values for travelers.  

Jessica Sitomer  

Vice President of Advisor Education and Success

Jessica Sitomer is a recognized coach on creating business and marketing plans, and an expert on using social media to drive branding and sales. She is responsible for the development and management of InteleTravel’s innovative training programs for agents in the U.S., U.K., and Mexico. In this role, Sitomer creates modern training solutions and resources that help InteleTravel’s independent travel advisors successfully launch and manage their own business. She also hosts the company’s Dream Maker Events and leads the training at its annual conference, InteleTravel Quest, which is attended by thousands of agents and suppliers every year.  

Tricia Handley-Hughes  

U.K. Managing Director

With over 40 years of industry experience across travel and hospitality sectors, Tricia Handley-Hughes oversees and manages all of InteleTravel's U.K. business operations, including its commercial growth and marketing communications initiatives. Since joining in 2018, Handley-Hughes has guided InteleTravel's business to become the largest homeworker agency in the U.K. with over 10,000 independent travel advisors.  

Lori Currier  

Chief Financial Officer  

Lori Currier oversees the accounting, financial planning and analysis, and business support of InteleTravel. Currier joined the company in 2014 and works closely with the senior leadership team to focus on operational efficiency for InteleTravel services. She graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.  

Mike Putman  

Executive Director  

Mike Putman is an accomplished and recognized travel industry leader with nearly 40 years of experience. In addition to building one of the largest privately held travel agencies in the Southeast, he founded one of the first online travel websites and built it into one of the largest online sellers of complex travel. As Executive Director for InteleTravel, Putman helps shape the company's strategy with his expertise in technology and travel distribution.  

Susan Petrillo  

Chief Information Officer

Susan Petrillo is one of the masterminds behind the technology that makes InteleTravel “work.” With over 30 years of technology and IT experience at Fortune 500 companies, she has designed, developed, and implemented the existing systems and new technology solutions that enhance InteleTravel’s existing customer experience, as well as establishing more cost-effective and efficient business operations.  

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Forbes Travel Guide

Joseph W. Dupree

Executive Trainer at Forbes Travel Guide

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Joseph "Joe" Dupree is the third generation of his family to build a dedicated career in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining the Forbes Travel Guide team, he was the Regional Director of Talent Development for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Over the course of his tenure with Hyatt, Dupree spearheaded development programs and training initiatives focused on service enhancement for 26 properties across the spectrum of the company's brands.

Dupree also enjoyed a 15-year career with Four Seasons, holding management positions in both food and beverage and rooms divisions, in roles ranging from Assistant Executive Steward to Director of Rooms. While with Four Seasons, he lived and worked at properties in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Newport Beach and Austin.

Josh Santos

Manager, Learning & Development

Executive Trainer

Vivian Liberman

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Karelle Van Elslande

Senior Manager, Service & Quality Development

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in  my post about finding cheap flights  that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

READ OUR CHEAT SHEET

Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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Creating a More Effective Travel Path

by Joe Rice | Aug 6, 2018 | Hotel Industry , Leadership , Management

A successful travel path is a key component for every successful manager in the hospitality industry. It is something that should be done at both the beginning and end of a shift but should also happen at least once throughout the day. Sadly, though, most managers have never actually been trained on how to walk a successful travel path.

To be honest, I was not “trained” on a travel path until I was several years into my hospitality career. It was about three years into my career before a superior manager actually took the time to walk me around the property to point out the nuances of a travel path I was missing on a regular basis.

I had been working at the Hilton Cherry Hill for several years when there was a massive change in executive management. We got a new general manager, new director of catering, and a new food and beverage director all in one fell swoop. My first few weeks with the new general manager were a bit rough, to say the least. EVERY time he walked the property my radio started chirping for issues he wanted fixed ASAP.

Embarrassingly, the things he was seeing were not even on my radar. After two or three of his “tours,” I walked into his office and asked him to do a tour with me. I wanted to see things through his eyes, because he was obviously far more skilled than I was at spotting these problems. Taking the initiative in this case inspired two things to occur:

• Allowed my general manager to see I was not afraid of criticism, but rather welcomed it to make me a better manager
• Created a mentoring relationship that existed throughout both of our careers

I learned several things that day and over the years, I developed a few tricks of my own to create a more effective travel path.

High Lookers and Low Lookers

Everyone is naturally a high looker or a low looker. Point being, you will naturally notice things that fall into your wheelhouse and need to train yourself in checking areas you are not naturally drawn to. In my case, I was a low looker. While I would check the ceilings and lighting, I did not do so with the same eye for detail I did items that were at eye level or lower. That skill had to be learned.

Checklists and Diagrams

When doing a travel path, the entire route should be mapped out with a checklist and diagram. For every room, you should have a diagram of the layout and a checklist for areas to check. When there is a problem, it should be marked on the checklist for the detail and the diagram for the location (so staff can address it later).

Walking with Staff

Time and again the importance of the staff seeing things through the guest and their managers eyes has been stressed. Just handing off a set of work orders is a recipe for disaster, at least initially. Until the staff is capable of seeing what you see, walk the property with them to show them the problems marked on the travel sheet checklist and diagram.

Make It Fun

During slower times, managers are presented with the opportunity to turn a mundane task into a fun activity for the staff. I did this in two ways: contests and scavenger hunts.

From time to time, I would mark the problems on my sheets, then have the banquet housemen walk the property on their own. The housemen that had the most citations on his list compared to mine won the prize. This ranged from cash to gift certificates to smiley checks.

Scavenger hunts were also very effective. I would disguise prizes as trash or an equipment problem. For instance, a gift certificate was hidden in a cup that was placed in a corner of banquet room or inside a dirty HVAC vent. This encouraged the staff to not only look for problems but to also investigate them.

The end effect was a banquet houseman staff that for the most part, saw the same things I was seeing throughout the day. This had a direct impact not only on the overall cleanliness of the property and upkeep of the equipment but also in how much time was being spent at the end of the day fixing misses and mistakes.

Can your property benefit from hotel managers that think out of the box like this? Joseph David International has been successfully placing executive hospitality managers for decades by finding the ideal fit for the property or organization. For more information about our hotel recruiting services, please click here .

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A trainer is suspended from the Kentucky Derby after 2 of his horses died

Ayana Archie

Lord Miles was scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby after two other horses trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. The trainer was hit with an indefinite suspension. The race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., has a post time just before 7 p.m. ET. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption

Lord Miles was scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby after two other horses trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. The trainer was hit with an indefinite suspension. The race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., has a post time just before 7 p.m. ET.

Horse trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. has been suspended indefinitely from the Kentucky Derby and other Churchill Downs races, after two of the horses in his care mysteriously died, the organization said Thursday.

Parents Pride died last Saturday and Chasing Artie died on Tuesday. The causes are still unknown.

Another of Joseph's horses, Lord Miles, has been scratched from the 149th Kentucky Derby, which takes place Saturday. Post time for the race is 6:57 p.m. ET.

Scientists find signs of horse riding in ancient human remains

"Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood," Churchill Downs Incorporated President Bill Mudd said. "The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility."

This year's Derby will be run after a number of high-profile deaths and injuries at the famed track.

"In the past week, four horses have died at Churchill Downs including a Kentucky Derby qualifier," member station Louisville Public Media reports. "Two more were pulled from their races due to injuries Wednesday."

Other trainers directly and indirectly employed by Joseph will be banned from entering horses in Churchill Downs races or keeping horses in the stalls there.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout in California

In 2021, Medina Spirit, a horse entered by Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert, won the Kentucky Derby. But the title was stripped days later , after Medina Spirit failed a drug test. Baffert was suspended for two years from Churchill Downs races.

Medina Spirit died later that year , after a workout at a track in Southern California.

Medina Spirit controversy erupted in 2021 May 5, 2023

A previous version of this story incorrectly said Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby in 2022. In fact, the horse won the race in 2021, before the title was stripped over a failed drug test.

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Archdiocese of Philadelphia League

Pope John Paul II Welcomes Joe Trainer As New Athletic Director

Mr. Trainer has spent 29 years in intercollegiate athletics, working at several different colleges and universities.  Most recently, he spent the last five years at Villanova University, serving as the Defensive Coordinator for their football program.  This was Trainer’s second stint at Villanova, having served as the Defensive Coordinator from 2000-2004.  Trainer served as the Head Football Coach at both Millersville University (2005-2007) and the University of Rhode Island (2009-2013).

Trainer stated, “I am beyond excited about joining the PJP community as Athletic Director. Pope John Paul II High School is one of the best high schools in the tri-state area, with an exceptional academic profile while competing in an outstanding athletic conference.”

As PJP’s Director of Athletics, Mr. Trainer will oversee a growing number of athletic programs, improving facilities and an accomplished group of dedicated coaches.  He will ensure compliance with all PIAA and Pioneer Athletic Conference (PAC) by-laws.  While fostering a culture of sportsmanship, integrity and professionalism among all student athletes, coaches and the PJP community, Mr. Trainer will continue to forge relationships with legacy alumni, PJP graduates and PAC member schools.

“We had a highly competitive pool of phenomenal candidates.  I am grateful for the diligent work of our committee in identifying an individual that will lead our athletic program into a new era. Mr. Trainer rose to the top of an impressive list of candidates,” stated Mr. Jason Bozzone, President.

Trainer is a 1990 graduate of Dickinson College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.  He earned a Master’s in Education from Temple in 1992, a Master’s in Counseling from Villanova in 2004, and is currently completing his Master’s in Theology from Villanova University.

“Mr. Trainer’s passion for the student athlete experience, his commitment to Catholic Education and vision for the PJP Athletic Department made him the ideal leader for our Athletic Department,” stated Father Brian Kean, Principal.

Joe and his wife Moreen reside in Glenside with their three children, Liam, Dillon, and Keira.  They are parishioners of Saint Philip Neri Parish, Lafayette Hill.  Liam is a sophomore at the University of Delaware where he continues his football career, Dillon is a three-sport student athlete at LaSalle College High School, and Keira will be a Freshman at Lansdale Catholic High School this Fall.

Mr. Trainer will officially begin his tenure as Athletic Director on July 1, 2019.

15 Fantastic and Easy Day Trips From Moscow

Is the hustle and bustle of Moscow starting to wear you down? No worries. There are multiple great day trips from Moscow that will let you see a different side of Russia that you won’t find in the metropolitan area. Each day trip I’ve listed below can easily be done by train from Moscow, and there are trains every day of the week.

The area surrounding Moscow is rich in cultural attractions and natural beauty. By traveling only a short distance, one feels far away from the crowds, and lines of the sprawling Russian capital. Since Russia is undoubtedly an expansive country it may take from half an hour to two hours to reach some of the landmarks on this list (by train or car) from the Moscow city center.

You can escape to the picturesque Russian countryside, visit war memorials, battlefields, admire onion-domed churches, and get insight into the local way of life. Easy day trips from Moscow include the incomparable white-stone Trinity Cathedral in Sergiyev Posad, the spectacular Cathedral of the Assumption in Dmitrov, and the Russian military aircraft in Monino. For those who love rural tranquility, Suzdal and Vladimir are a must-see. History buffs will appreciate the Patriotic War of 1812 reenactment that took place in Borodino on the first weekend of September.

Without further ado, here are 15 best day trips from Moscow that are well worth your attention.

The Best Day Trips from Moscow

There’s a reason Moscow is one of Europe’s most enigmatic destinations. It’s got culture, class, food, history, and more, but even better, is that it is the country’s main transport hub with so many attractions within a day trip from Moscow. While you can definitely spend days or even weeks in Moscow, it can, of course, be done in just one week. What can you do in Moscow in seven days ? Well, you can do a lot if you know how to plan a trip to a place you know so little about.

If you’re ready to get out of the city a bit and soak up the culture, fresh air, and enchanting architecture, I’ve rounded up my favorite day trips outside of Moscow. I often get asked: What are the best cities to visit in Russia? And these are places that I’ve been and loved.

My Favorite Easy Day Trips from Moscow:

Dmitrov Kolomna Zvenigorod Sergiyev Posad Yaroslavl Arkhangelskoye Estate Vladimir Suzdal Korolev Borodino Patriot Park in Kubinka Melikhovo Gorki Leninskie Kaluga Monino

1. Day Trip to Dmitrov from Moscow

Dmitrov may not be as popular as other cities in Russia, but the fact that the city was founded only 7 years earlier than Moscow makes for a great day trip. This small city some 90 kilometers from Moscow is particularly beautiful in the summer. As you walk the streets you can see sparkling fountains, charming centuries-old buildings, yachts and boats transiting through the canal and, of course, the Museum-Reserve Dmitrov Kremlin.

The Kremlin (castle) is the city’s main draw. The 10m high and about 1km long earthen rampart remained behind the wooden wall and gives an idea of how the castle looked like 400 years ago. The oldest surviving building on the Kremlin grounds is the 16th-century Assumption Cathedral with a unique five-tier iconostasis.

Not far from the Kremlin there is a compact 15th-century Borisoglebsky convent. Its main building – the 16th-century Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb is open to the visitors only for services of worship. In the 1930s in the convent housed a labor camp, which contained the builders of the Canal named after Moscow.

Getting There: Dmitrov sits an easy hour and sixteen minutes by train from Savyelovskiy Rail Terminal. This cheap day trip from Moscow is a great chance to soak up the historic charm to be found in Moscow Oblast.

2. Day Trip to Kolomna from Moscow

Situated to the south-east of Moscow, Kolomna is a beautiful port city on the Oka River. This is one of the oldest Russian cities in the region. So you can discover the old history in museums and monasteries. Interestingly, the city was a site for important weapon factories under the Soviet Union. Although it was opened up in 1994 Kolomna is not as popular as other day-trip destinations in the region.

Nevertheless, it is a great place to visit with friends and family where you can explore the 15th-century Kremlin made of red brick, try incredibly sweet traditional pastila (marshmallow), and visit some of the cute little churches and 19th-century mansions.

Getting There: Take the express train (commuter line train) from the Kazansky rail terminal to Golutvin station. The trip lasts one hour and forty minutes.

3. Day Trip to Zvenigorod from Moscow

This one is usually a given due to its proximity to and ease of transport from Moscow. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Moscow by train. You can easily hop on the train from the city and land right in the town of Zvenigorod where you can visit the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and sample the sparkly and refreshing kvass, a Russian specialty beverage that’s enjoyed in the summer months.

Zvenigorod is an adorable little town just under an hour away from the Moscow city and is an amazing place to visit as it will give a relaxing break from the hectic life of Moscow. Check this day trip if you don’t feel like planning.

If you have a sweet tooth, spend some time in the quirky Museum of Russian Desserts, where you can indulge in uniquely delicious treats and explore the intersection of food and culture.

Then you may want to pay the Zvenigorod Museum of History, Architecture, and Art a visit. The museum’s exposition is located on the territory of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery, or rather, in the 17th-century Tsaritsyny chambers, built for the wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Stroll through the museum halls to view the permanent exhibitions, which offer insights into various aspects of Russian history. The intricate museum’s building is adorned with a decorative porch, complex patterned elements, and looks very impressive in general.

4. Day Trip to Sergiyev Posad from Moscow

If you’re looking for cheap day trips from Moscow, Sergiyev Posad is a good choice at just a few dollar train ride away. Known as a major center of pilgrimage and home to one of the largest Russian Orthodox Monastery which has been here for hundreds of years, Sergiyev Posad is a fun day trip from Moscow and can be combined with Abramtsevo Museum Estate. As the only town in Moscow Region which is included in the Golden Ring of Russian cities, Sergiyev Posad is an incredible destination for a day trip from Moscow that packs UNESCO-protected Trinity Sergius Lavra, great museums, and gorgeous architecture into one day.

Make sure you see the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral that was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in mid-16th-century and go inside to marvel at the impressive iconostasis that features Simon Ushakov’s masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Enjoy a delicious lamb steak with wheat kasha, Ukha fish soup, or hand-made dumplings as you learn a lot about religious and cultural history.

Getting There: Known for its small-town charm and welcoming feel, you can get to Sergiyev Posad by train, by bus, or by car. Trains depart from Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal every thirty minutes, and the trip lasts about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus at the ‘VDNKh’ metro station. A bus trip to Sergiyev Posad takes two hours on average but can be reached in 90 minutes depending on traffic. If you go by car expect to spend about an hour and a half attempting to traverse the congested Yaroslavskoye highway.

5. Day Trip to Yaroslavl from Moscow

Going from Moscow to Yaroslavl may seem like a really long day trip, but honestly, if you take the comfortable train, it only takes about four hours to reach the city, so making a Yaroslavl day trip is totally doable. Although I do recommend much more than one day in Yaroslavl, especially if it’s your first time.

Cultural tourists visiting Yaroslavl should start their exploration by strolling the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spacious 100-hectare area enclosed by Sobinova and Republican streets is home to most popular attractions – the 17th-century Church of Elijah the Prophet that survived almost exactly in its original form, and in contrast to it, the white stone Assumption Cathedral, restored in the 2000s.

If you walk a bit further passing the Holy Trinity sculpture and city’s foundation stone, you will find yourself at Strelka, a park on the cape, which offers panoramic views of the spot at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl rivers. On the way back, there is a pleasant walk along the picturesque Volga embankment to the Governor’s Garden with shadowy alleys and an open-air Sculpture museum.

Getting There: Yaroslavl is about 280 km (173 miles) northeast of Moscow, so the best way to get there is to take a morning train from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal. A tour is also a great way to see the Yaroslavl without having to worry about driving or searching for trains. You can book a tour here.

6. Day Trip to Arkhangelskoye Estate from Moscow

Situated on the outskirts of Moscow and dates back to the late 18th-century, Arkhangelskoye Estate was the domain of the nobility for over a century until the Russian Revolution swept people who owned the estate out of the country. The estate was turned into a museum, which it remains today.

The Arkhangelskoye Estate Museum holds the largest rare-book collection. The exhibition also includes old manuscripts, historical documents, photos from the past, a vast collection of sculpture, paintings, engravings, and exceptional examples of decorative art. These art objects once belonged to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, the former owner of the estate.

Arkhangelskoye Estate is often referred to as the Russian version of Versailles because of the intricately manicured garden and beautiful 18th-century park. Famous Russian writers and poets such as Pushkin, Herzen, Mayakovsky loved to spend their free time here making long excursions in the surrounding area. Arkhangelskoye is a perfect place to appreciate the terraces decorated by delightful statues, exquisite vases, and busts.

Visitors can take tours, which introduce them to vibrant examples of Russian art and culture.

Getting There: To reach the estate it’s best to take a bus or a privately-owned minibus that departs from Tushinskaya metro station.

7. Day Trip to Vladimir from Moscow

Situated only two hours east of Moscow, Vladimir is absolutely one of the best places to visit near Moscow for a day trip. This splendid city dates back to the 12th century and has a very rich history. If magnificent Orthodox cathedrals and traditional white-stone architecture entice you, then this place is perfect for a day trip with your significant other.

First things first, you need to see the Golden Gate, which indicates the entrance into the old town. This 12th-century medieval masterpiece of military architecture is associated not only with Vladimir but with the Golden Ring tourist route itself. At the top of the gate, where once was the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, there is the Museum of Weapons. Great looking arrowheads and spear points date back to the Grand Principality of Vladimir, while the exhibition in an impressively majestic setting features a number of Batu-Khan related artifacts.

There’s a variety of attractions to put on your must-see list: the Old Believers Trinity Church right behind it, the Cathedral of St Demetrius, and Dormition (Uspensky) Cathedral. If you plan on shopping for souvenirs like birch-bark masterpieces of Kunov’s masters, drawings, carving, embossing, figures of people and animals, stop by the Lacquer Miniature, the Museum of Crystal, and the Gingerbread Museum. Many of the local attractions were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Getting There: The best way to visit this area is to catch an early train from Moscow and book a full-day tour of Vladimir in advance. This one includes the town of Suzdal as well.

8. Day Trip to Suzdal from Moscow

This gem of a little medieval town perched on a hill just a 30-minute ride from Vladimir is one of those places I’ve visited and could move there permanently and be happy! It’s a charming little piece of history that also has a Kremlin and visiting it feels like stepping back in time. if you’re a culture enthusiast you’ll be glad to know there are numerous churches, five monasteries, including Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in Suzdal. Check them out if you want to get a real taste of the country!

pend some time shopping at the Torgovaya ploshchad (Market Square), where you can buy baskets made of birch bark, ceramic handmade plates, honey or souvenirs and, of course, grab some afternoon tea!

Getting There: Trains leave regularly from Moscow’s Kurskiy Rail Terminal to Vladimir where you can hop on a bus to Suzdal. You can also take a bus from Moscow. In this case, it might take longer and you’ll probably encounter infamous traffic jams. If you go by express train the trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. There are slower trains of course, but I’d recommend going with the fast one and save a lot of time!

9. Day Trip to Korolev from Moscow

Located some 30 kilometers northeast of Moscow, Korolev has become arguably the most important space research center with skilled workers from across the Soviet Union who came here to expand the space program.

It became a leading institute dedicated to aerospace research in the country. Today, that tendency can still be clearly seen on the streets and in the buildings. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the city retained its status as the headquarters of Russia’s space surveillance network and now it hosts the Russian Mission Control Center, an analogue of the American Mission Control Center at NASA’s Space Center in Houston.

If you want to learn more about Mission Control Center and the former Russian Mir space station, book a tour with a knowledgeable guide who can clearly tell the history of this place.

If you’re not into space exploration there is also a Memorial Apartment Museum of Marina Tsvetaeva in Bolshevo. With a picturesque park next to the museum, it’s a great place for walking in the fresh air. The highlight of the park is memorial stones with quotes from Tsvetaeva’s poems.

Getting There: I’d recommend going by train. Catch one at Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal that departs every 30 minutes to reach Bolshevo station.

10. Day Trip to Borodino from Moscow

The historic Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812, took place just outside the small village of Borodino, about 140 km west of Moscow, and about 15 km from the nearest town of Mozhaysk. Although the French won the Battle of Borodino and went to capture Moscow, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the pre-twentieth-century that is also predetermined Napoleon’s defeat.

While it was a battlefield back then, not much remains today. It’s mostly a green and grassy field now with a few monuments of military honor, architectural objects dated back to 19th and 20th century, and fortification facilities scattered throughout the area. The largest of these is the 27-meter high obelisk located right at the heart of the former battlefield.

Every year the military and patriotic festival and theatrical performance take place in Borodino. Early September is considered to be the best for visiting. But if you just want to feel the spirit of the battle, it’s better to go at any other time of the year.

Getting there: Hop on a train from the Belorussky rail terminal, disembark in Mozhaysk, and then take a bus to the museum. The whole travel time is about 2 hours.

11. Day Trip to Patriot Park in Kubinka from Moscow

Once a Red Army tank training ground, now it’s a military Disneyland with history, structure, guns, and armored vehicles! The tank museum originally housed one of the world’s largest and rarest collections of tanks. In 2016 they combined the training grounds with the newly-created Patriot Park. Since then, some of the notable and rare items have been moved to the Patriot Park site, so you may want to combine both sites into one tour (only about 20 minutes apart).

The exhibition grounds include some very rare specimens that are must-see for any military enthusiasts out there. The staff is friendly, helpful and kind, while the museum has a small shop. As this site is part of an operating military base, they may ask you to show your passport, or provide them with a photocopy of the front pages. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks, and there are bathroom facilities. There’s plenty to see, so I recommend setting aside an entire day!

Getting there: Situated halfway between Borodino and Moscow, the best way to reach Patriot Park in Kubinka is by car. Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent one, consider car-sharing apps like Gett or UBER. The price of ride-sharing services is cheap enough to make them a viable proposition for choosing them.

12. Day Trip to Melikhovo from Moscow

Located some 80 km from Moscow, Melikhovo is one of the most important museums dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This renowned Russian writer and playwright acquired Melikhovo in 1892. He lived there with his parents and close relatives for 7 years before moving to the Crimea in 1899. Melikhovo is where he wrote his plays “The Man in the Case” and “The Seagull”.

The estate faded into oblivion right after the Revolution but in 1939 Anton Chekhov’s sister Maria and his nephew established a museum based on Chekhov’s place of living. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1941.

Today museum’s exhibition reveals the legacy of a celebrated writer and shows his path not only as a writer but as a doctor and public figure as well. The collection also features some of the best-known paintings by famous artists like Isaac Levitan and Vasily Polenov, who were Chekhov’s friends. When it comes to fun and educational day trips from Moscow, Melikhovo is a nice place for learning more about Chekov’s life and work.

Getting There: You can reach Melikhovo by train from Kurskiy rail Terminal. Disembark in the town of Chekhov and hop on a minibus that will get to the estate. Alternatively, hop on a bus that departs from the Yuzhnaya metro station.

13. Day Trip to Gorki Leninskie from Moscow

Once the realm of Russian nobles, Gorki Leninskie was turned into Lenin’s museum some 25 years after his death. The estate sits some 30-minute bus ride from the Domodedovskaya metro station and houses Soviet-era memorabilia and Lenin’s memorial flat recently transferred from the Kremlin, as well as his vintage Rolls-Royce.

Most people only associate this place with the name of the first communist leader. In fact, the name of the estate was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th-century. Throughout its history, the estate was owned by a number of prominent figures. It’s in fact one of the best museums that holds the country’s finest collection 19th-century furnishings and a unique collection of domestic items owned by nobles. Plus, ancient Vyatichi native tribe or East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin’s burial mounds and a few notable sculptures are hidden behind the avenues of lime trees in the park.

Getting There: You could, of course, hop on a bus from Domodedovskaya metro station. But it would be much easier just to use UBER or Gett. The estate isn’t that far from the Moscow Circle Road but going there by bus may involve some navigating.

14. Day Trip to Kaluga from Moscow

If you’re looking for an educational day trip from Moscow, look no farther than Kaluga! This beautiful city could really entertain you for more than just a day, but to get a taste of science, be sure to visit the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics. Or in other words, the Space Museum.

Visitors to the museum will learn more about the history of space exploration. In fact, this is one of the largest Space Museums in Russia, which opened its doors in Kaluga in 1967. Here you can see a prototype of the iconic MIR space station and a duplicate of the Voskhod rocket. The very same rocket that took the first man to space. There’s also a planetarium, which from the outside resembles a spaceship.

Kaluga is a totally walkable city. Make sure to spend some time strolling Teatralnaya street with the authentic 19th-century pavement that now marks the Kilometer Zero. Then walk across the 18th-century Kamenniy Most (the Stone Bridge) that somewhat resembles a Roman aqueduct. If you’re an architecture buff marvel at the Church of St. Cosmas and Damian.

It is assumed that the church was erected by one of the followers of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1794. The church resembles the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg. With five church towers directed upward and six tiers of oblong windows give the exterior a sense of lightness and airiness.

Getting There: Trains from Kiyevsky Rail Terminal to Kaluga leave every 90 minutes. The trip takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes.

15. Day Trip to Monino from Moscow

Are you looking for great family & kid-friendly day trips from Moscow? If so, consider visiting the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino. This unique military open-air museum is home to over 180 Russian aircraft and 100 aircraft engines and the perfect place to go when your crowd is looking for a break from hectic city life. Check this tour if you don’t feel like planning.

This site was formerly an operational airbase from 1932 till 1956 and many of the Russian aviation Design bureaus have made a contribution to the operation and maintenance of the museum. Along with aircraft from the Second World War, there are the TU-95 Bear four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and the TU-144 Charger a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner (which resembled the Concorde). The museum also has exhibits related to military aviation history such as the uniform of captured U2 pilot Gary Powers.

Getting There: This museum is located at Monino Town, about 30 km from Moscow. It is open on all days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays and Tuesdays. To get there take a train departing from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal and disembark at Monino station. Alternatively, hop on a bus from Schelkovskaya or Partizanskaya metro station.

Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Moscow

I hope this post has helped you discover some amazing day trips from Moscow. From imposing cathedrals, mighty fortresses and monasteries, there are a lot of incredible places to visit the Russian capital, and the best part is that getting there is always ways to get around on the cheap.

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Great article for visitors in Moscow , thanks for sharing

Marie Hernandez

I hadn’t considered traveling to Moscow until NOW! Fantastic post and ideas for visitors! Thanks!

Graham Marsden

Nice to see so many options outside of Moscow, but I have to say I wish this list had a recommendation for a hike or a beautiful natural areas or national parks. Maybe the next list!

I have to admit that I knew nothing about the area surrounding Moscow. This is definitely an inspiring list of places to go.

When I read this article about Moscow. I wanted to pack my bags and get there sooner. thank you for the great write up.

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There’s Been an Airplane Emergency. Here’s What Flight Attendants Do Next.

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Alaska Airlines flight attendants put on oxygen masks during a training demonstration in a mock airplane cabin designed to resemble a Boeing 737-900.

Christine Chung, a travel reporter, flew to Seattle to join a class about Alaska’s flight attendant safety training.

Administering Aid in Medical Emergencies

Some medications, such as Benadryl and epinephrine, can only be administered by flight attendants once an on-call medical professional on the ground has given approval.

Fighting Fires

Personal smoke hoods are also used, which inflate and provide up to 15 minutes of oxygen.

Last year, there were 63 lithium battery fires caused by passengers, according to the F.A.A. Battery packs and e-cigarettes are the biggest culprits.

Leading Evacuations

Alaska mostly flies Boeing 737 aircraft, which have four door exits and four window exits. Opening these can be tricky – the doors weigh about 150 pounds.

An exit row in a mock airplane cabin at Alaska’s training facility. This overwing exit door weighs about 60 lbs.

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Welcome to cotter travel.

Where is Cotter Travel? Well, here is their story.

In 1985 Bob Cotter set out on a new adventure opening his own company, and Cotter Travel was born. Starting from scratch he grew it into the largest Travel Agency in the St. Joseph region. While this was no easy task, Bob was never short of hard work and determination. A stickler for professionalism, he and his agents dressed the part every day, including suits for the men and dresses for the ladies. Bob knew one thing for sure, if you looked like a professional and acted like a professional, you were treated like a professional.

Bob started training his son Chad in the industry at a young age, and when he was still in high school, Chad became a travel agent just like his dad. Sadly, Bob is no longer with us, having passed away in 2011. Although Bob is gone, he instilled in Chad a work ethic and a sense of professionalism that has continued for over 25 years.

In 2011 Chad and the Cotter Travel family joined Aura Travel (formerly Totally Trips). Chad has continued to be a top salesman and just like his dad, is not afraid of hard work.

While we may not wear suits anymore, we still carry on with the same professional culture started by Bob Cotter in 1985. We strive to continue the traditions set in place by Cotter Travel for many years to come.

Thank you, Bob, for stepping out in a new adventure over 35 years ago, and thank you Chad for being just like your dad.

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