traveller made

Why Traveller Made Is Exploding in Europe . . . and Beyond

An interview with ceo quentin desurmont.

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The penthouse at Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles

Photo by Fabrice Rambert

Traveller Made , a luxury travel consortium headquartered in Paris, is rapidly expanding. Today, there are about 2,000 travel advisors across 400 agencies: 200 in Europe, 100 in the Americas, and 100 in Asia, India, and Russia.

Founder and CEO Quentin Desurmont is focused on defining what real luxury means today and pushing the travel industry to think of itself the way other luxury industries do.

Desurmont spent the majority of his career in France, England, and Spain. He worked in fashion for eight years, earned an MBA degree, and was the sales and marketing director at Disneyland Paris before he started his own luxury travel agency in 2008. His years as a “travel designer” (what Traveller Made calls their advisors) led him to start the consortium in 2013.

I talked to him about why Traveller Made is growing so quickly, the biggest challenges, and his big-picture look at sustainability.

How did you get the idea for and start Traveller Made?

I quickly got a lot of great clients when I started my own agency. I rarely worked with celebrities. I wanted to work with people who are educated, thorough, who know what they want and will pay for it. And I saw a need for a way to bring together the agencies that are different from all the others, ones like mine.

I based the foundation of Traveller Made on the obsessions I had as a travel designer. How can I be more visible with high-net-worth travelers? How can I have better relationships with all of the suppliers?

Did you have mentors in the industry?

My mentor was Yves Carcelle at LVMH [the former chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton], who passed away a few years ago. He taught me that in the travel industry, we’re very good at creating value but not good enough at capturing value. He presented at one of our meetings and said Louis Vuitton was making 45 percent in profit. Everyone was like, oh my god. How do we do that?

Traveller Made CEO Quentin Desurmont

Courtesy of Traveller Made

What differentiates Traveller Made from other consortia?

We don’t try to be big. We try to be small giants. On average, our agencies have 14 staff and 7.5 million euro in annual sales, but we really make sure they are like-minded and sell true luxury. We have the highest ADR [average daily rate] in hotel bookings because our travel designers book so many suites. We also decided not to have big cruise lines as partners. We do small, beautiful boats and river cruises, but we don’t do big cruise lines.

We reject 50 percent of our agency applications. We’re very picky, and we’re auditing them constantly. Agencies don’t pay when they join Traveller Made, but we expect them to pay in kind. Paying in kind means they have to sell business to our suppliers, attend our events, participate, and be committed.

Tell me about your events and conferences.

At our first conference [in 2013], we didn’t invite anyone from travel to present. We didn’t want to get together and say, ‘We are the best, I’m so beautiful, I’m great, you’re great’ and so on. No, we wanted to hear from companies who are making 30–50 percent profit selling luxury goods. We brought people from Hermès, Cartier, and Christie’s. Last year, we had a trends bureau that works with big luxury brands come.

Next year’s conference will be in Marbella. We also will host our Presidents’ Club [with agency owners] before ILTM Cannes in Marseilles.

We started the Edge of Luxury Travel, where we invite 25 agencies who sell travel valued at more than 100,000 euros per week [they must provide evidence of bookings], and we invite suppliers who have product worth more than 100,000 euros per week. It’s bringing the crème de la crème together. The purpose of Edge is this: It is better to get the 10 percent commission for a week at the amazing penthouse at Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles , than for a room valued at $600 per night.

We are also starting a road show in Europe this November bringing suppliers to meet agencies. When you’re a small hotel, it’s difficult to organize sales calls. We think about how to give the most return on investment in everything we do.

What are the biggest challenges for you right now?

The challenge is to keep following the little star in the sky that is guiding us. We don’t care about the competition. I don’t even look at it. We don’t poach our competitors. We are being poached by them—they try to steal agencies from us. But it’s a big market, and the world is big enough. I believe you can be competitors but not cowboys. But it’s OK, I really don’t care. It’s not a problem because we built something in which we believe.

The first big issue is talent. Traveller Made agencies grew by 26 percent in sales last year and 18 percent the year before. How do we keep recruiting the best talent and help them recruit the best talent? You can’t just have cheap labor. You see the industry [facing] the issue of how to classify freelancers and independent contractors. Some numbers say that ICs have grown to 70 percent. It’s a practical solution but not a long-term one. You want people that support the DNA of your company and stay with that.

The second is technology. Small companies are not very well equipped with back-of-house solutions, like accounting and CRM, and we must help both our members and partners reach what they need. I believe we are doing this.

And the third is what Yves Carcelle taught me. We create a lot of value but don’t capture that value financially. One solution is that we created a think tank called the Luxury Travel Lab with smart people from luxury goods brands. We gathered in Paris a few weeks ago. We talked about value capture and how it is currently a cost-based model in travel. You have the cost and then the markup. You need to have a value-based model. That is true luxury, a strong emotional brand connection. A year ago, we worked with a researcher to define the new luxury travel. We arrived at the Haute Villegiature concept. Villeggiatura means travel in Italian—it’s not really used anymore, but it’s a beautiful word. We came up with 12 keywords to define exactly what it is, and we’re now putting specifications behind it.

When you’re buying luxury shoes, you’re buying a fantasy and a dream. Do people buy a dream when they go to one of the most luxurious hotels in the world? I think so.

Do you think the sustainability movement will affect travel in a negative way?

Sustainability is embedded in luxury travel now. But you can view it through a little hole or in a global picture. The little hole is: If I travel with a private jet, I am not sustainable. Or you can say that these very rich clients have big impact on the places they go. For example, with luxury travel in Africa, many more people are staying in smaller villages and creating livelihoods from farming, cooking, attending the lodge, everything. To bring these people there, they will fly business or by private jet. But the positive effect on places like Africa is extraordinary. It’s a better way to look at sustainability.

It is good that there is a massive pressure on airlines to change, find alternative fuels, and more, because it is a big problem. I am talking to my children [ages 16, 14, and 10] about it—what kind of world will we leave you?

I am looking for a company that would be able to certify hotels in sustainability. I am not looking for a magazine doing a selection based on a committee, but people visiting and grading hotels on specific things, saying this lodge is 95 percent sustainable based on these X things.

What are some of your favorite hotels in the world?

I could name 200 right now, I love so many. The common thread is that they are small, beautiful, and cozy with great food and super service. I love the Split Apple Retreat in New Zealand, Singita Lebombo Lodge in South Africa, the Reserva do Ibitipoca pousada in Brazil, Storfjord Hotel in Norway, and Brach Paris . Seventy percent of the Traveller Made collection is independent hotels.

>>Next: What Annoys You About Luxury Hotels?

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• Obsessed with luxury: how Traveller Made grew into a global success story

In less than a decade, Traveller Made has gone from a bold idea to become a pre-eminent global network for providers of luxury travel and experiences. The Insider met its founder and leading light, Quentin Desurmont, to learn the secrets of its success and to discover more about the unique mindset of the wealthy traveler.

UPDATE: March 2022 – since this article was published, the company has adopted a new brand name, Serandipians. To retain the essence of our original piece, we have kept the content (and naming) as originally stated.

Career turning points can come at any time, in any place. For Quentin Desurmont, such a moment arrived at 6am, while sipping a coffee in his small office on the Champs Élysées in Paris.

“I’d launched my first high end travel agency, Maison Peplum, a couple of years before. And I could see that the market in Europe was ready for the kind of luxury travel and hospitality consortia which were already operating in the United States,” he explains.

“So, I called the most important ones and said ‘why don’t you come to Europe? And I will help you’. And each time they said no; that they’d looked at Europe and decided it wouldn’t work… too much regulation and too many languages. I was so upset!”

With the early morning caffeine surging through him, Quentin decided to go it alone and create a luxury travel consortium of his own. Thus, Traveller Made was born.

“I came up with the name as a play on ‘tailor made’, and because I wanted a brand that would be easy to understand while we were building our presence. In September 2013, we announced our first group of agency partners – 47 in total. And we had secured founding hotel partners that included Belmond, Oetker Collection and Raffles Fairmont. Having names of that caliber on board was absolutely key to our credibility in these early days.”

Today, Quentin’s company is established as the leading Europe-based luxury travel designer community, boasting an extensive collection of member agencies and hospitality partners across the world. And even though some of the US players have subsequently changed their minds and entered the European market, Quentin is quick to point out that Traveller Made enjoys a larger presence in the US market than his rivals have so far carved out in Europe.

“We offer something different,” he continues. “We are very focused on a specific positioning; and that is an obsession with luxury. Our definition of luxury is small and beautiful, hidden gems, plus great emotional connections and storytelling. We make sure that all the agencies and partners we work with are like-minded. We must have evidence by recommendation that they are doing luxury.”

Though the company is well on its way towards a publicly stated target of having 500 agencies within its network, Quentin has kept tight control of the recruitment and management processes. This ensures that everything stays in line with the founding principles of the business, even as its reach expands.

“We refuse more than 50% of the agencies who request membership each year. Also, we ask our hoteliers to give feedback on every agency in the network. On the partner side, we never go above half the hotels or DMCs (destination management companies) in a given location, because we want to continue providing a minimum level of business to reward those who’ve already committed to Traveller Made.”

Going private

Among the biggest growth areas in recent years has been in private travel; gathered under the heading ‘Private Collection’ on the company’s website.

“This goes back to an idea someone in my team had, which was to create a collection of private places. When we looked into it, we discovered that these accounted for around 13-15% of total hospitality bookings; but we were the first network to launch it as a specific offer. The brokers didn’t get it at first, but now it is established and expanding.”

As well as private places to stay, the notion of privacy and exclusivity in journeys to and from them is an area that’s also been supercharged by the pandemic – in particular private aviation .

“Airports and commercial airliners are places that often destroy the beauty of travel,” says Quentin. “We’ve seen a big increase in the use of private aircraft since the start of the pandemic; and this will continue, because once you’ve tasted private aviation you never go back!

“Private sailing is also very important today. We always refused to go into the cruise business, because it didn’t fit our definition of luxury. However, we do offer charter yachts and expedition boats, with partners such as Quark Expeditions. And we like that business, because it’s a very difficult and costly thing for someone to create by themselves.”

“In our industry, it’s absolutely essential to get into the minds of our clients. When I was Marketing & Sales Director for Disneyland Paris, we did image research with a panel of 5,000 people every six months. In this way we knew what we were good at, what we were getting worse at, and what we had to fix. This is something I’ve brought with me to Traveller Made.”

Quentin Desurmont

Knowledge is power

Speak to a Traveller Made network member , and they’ll be very likely to cite the way the company supports its network through the generation, and sharing, of market intelligence.

“In our industry, it’s absolutely essential to get into the minds of our clients. When I was Marketing & Sales Director for Disneyland Paris, we did image research with a panel of 5,000 people every six months. In this way we knew what we were good at, what we were getting worse at, and what we had to fix. This is something I’ve brought with me to Traveller Made,” notes Quentin.

At the heart of these activities are the conferences and events which bring the network together to look at a particular topic in depth. One of the early topics was so-called ‘ultravel’; and, in particular, the distinct needs of the ultra-high net worth individuals who occupy these rarified heights.

More recently, the focus has been on the concept of luxury branding. “We’re using research to better understand the concept of high-end luxury; also what is the haut façon in luxury and that we call ‘ Haute Villegiature ‘ in travel. We’re studying the essence of the luxury brand – how do you create such a brand? What is brand storytelling?

“This year our topic is emotion. In luxury, there is no brand without emotions. Luxury clients take elements like service quality for granted. They want to hear something else, a story; they want to dream. This is where desirability comes from. And a luxury brand must always think of how it can improve desirability year after year.

“When you start to think like this, it is when you start to have a luxury thinking, and when you can reach the levels of a luxury brand.”

Traveller Made’s six ‘emotions’ driving luxury travel

1) Experiential – driven by the human need to be together and feel emotions, and to return home with lasting memories from emotional experiences 2) “ExperiMential” & Beyond – AKA ‘the return of the pioneers’. Enabling the ultra-wealthy to re-live the explorations and adventures of a century before, but safely and in luxury. Features trips to the poles, to active volcanos, untapped forests and ocean dives. 3) Privacy & Intimacy – this is an area of travel and hospitality which is gaining in importance with every passing day. In an increasingly crazy world, the desire to escape in privacy is intense. 4) Slow Travel – another contra-trend to the ever-accelerating pace of life. The concept of a ‘soft landing’, where the arrival offers a gentler introduction to the new destination, is one that Traveller Made has pioneered. 5) Last Chance to See – the desire to visit places, species and even tribes that may disappear; often with an ambition to help. Quentin notes that, contrary to popular opinion, many ultra-wealthy individuals are only too keen to try and give something back. 6) Feel the Universe – discovering the pristine beauty of the planet, while acknowledging its fragility.

• To discover more about Traveller Made, visit the website

Photo credits:

Yacht image – Evgeny Biletskiy, iStock/Getty Panel image – Shifaaz shamoon on Unsplash

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The Traveller Made network continues to grow in 2020

Traveller Made, an international network of luxury travel designers, has continued to strike new partnerships despite the wide range of uncertainties that now mar global travel.

This international luxury travel designer network innovates amid the pandemic

The European player has been joined by 73 new members and partners between April and September alone, amounting to 450 agencies in 70 countries; nearly 1,200 partners in all! “ 25 new members and 48 partners willing to join the Traveller Made network is a notable achievement in view of the current conditions ” says Quentin Desurmont , President of Traveller Made.

What differentiates this European network from the competition? A preference for “ultra luxury”. Through innovation and agility Traveller Made creates synergies that will allow for the sharing of experiences at a global level, with over 200 diverse travel agencies within the continent alone.

Il Sereno | Lake Como

With more than 200 travel agencies in Europe, the network helps to promote European hotels to the most accessible clientele available in this period of crisis; fellow Europeans.

This is achieved through innovations and network-facilitation, including the virtual version of “The Essence of Luxury Travel show” which hosted nearly 10,500 virtual meetings, attended by 420 members and partners — i.e. more than half of those registered for the physical event initially planned in Marbella from the 22nd to the 25th of March.

Every year, this event allows worldwide luxury travel brands to converge, such as Aman, Oetker Collection, Cheval-Blanc, Kerzner One & Only Resorts, The Peninsula Hotels, Belmond… All opted into this unique solution developed by Traveller Made.

Quentin Desurmont

Founder & President Traveller Made®

Traveller Made has several years of successful collaboration with Relais & Châteaux, Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Preferred Hotels & Resorts and concluded a similar partnership with Leading Hotels of the World at the beginning of the year.

These partnerships consist of exchanges of best practices, with the aim of bringing more value, which is sorely needed by hoteliers and travel designers.

Le Grand Bellevue | Gstaad | Photo (c) Nick Hopper

Traveller Made has followed this approach to introduce a unique service to the tourism market, particularly the luxury segment. In response to the demand from its travel agencies, it’s pioneered a “Restart Map”, an interactive real-time map which exhibits the reopening dates of its hotel partners.

This free-of-charge initiative is just another way that this network has serviced its member travel designers during the pandemic, while also informing travellers of the hotel offer by geographical area and piquing their wanderlust.

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The luxury travel designer network has strengthened its global reach, adding new travel agencies in Europe (8), Asia and the Pacific (7), North America (5), Middle East and Africa (3) and South America (2), taking Traveller Made’s total number of agencies to 453 in 71 countries.

That is an increase of 85 new Member Agencies in the two years since Quentin Desurmont, President of Traveller Made flagged the ambitious target exclusively with LATTE .

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In Australia, the number of Traveller Made agencies remains as seven: 33 Degrees, Denny’s Travel, Luxury Life Travel, Oasis Travel, Seven Skies, The Classic Safari Company and The Honeymoon Boutique Pty Ltd.

A new addition in Australia

Traveller Made has also welcomed nearly 50 partners to its stable in 2020. The collection has a strong focus on Europe (where there are whopping 27 new additions), but Traveller Made does have one solitary newcomer to the portfolio Down Under – Baillie Lodges’ iconic Longitude 131°.

With Longitude 131° the collection of elite hotels, resorts and lodges in Australia rises to 13. The Red Centre property joins the likes of InterContinental Hayman Island, Halcyon House, COMO The Treasury, The Langham, Sydney, and Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

Longitude 131° is the latest member of the Luxury Lodges of Australia aligning with Traveller Made. It joins Qualia, The Louise, Pretty Beach House, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Arkaba, Lizard Island Resort and Bamurru Plains in the portfolio of exquisite hotels.

“At a time when there’s been no international visitor arrivals, we’re very proud that Longitude 131° is the only Australian addition to the Traveller Made global network of premium product and specialist agents,” Baillie Lodges Chief Operating Officer Craig Bradbery told LATTE .

“The newest – and first international – addition to the Baillie Lodges collection is Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island, which is also a member of the Traveller Made network, so it makes sense to align the properties in this way.

“We’ve also seen the strength in the association from some of our colleagues in the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection and look forward to working as part of a global community once again as a new year heralds a new era of travel,” Bradbery said.

Other new Traveller Made partners

Overseas, new member properties include Virgin Limited Edition ‘s The Lodge Verbier in the Swiss Alps, Son Bunyola in Mallorca, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco and Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands; and Rocco Forte ‘s Rocco Forte House in Rome.

It’s not just hotels, resorts and lodges. Traveller Made’s new partners include 15 private villas, a consortium, a DMC, a tourism board ( Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority ), a private island, a private aviation broker and a private yacht broker.

Guy Antognelli, General Manager of Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority told LATTE the tourism bureau was proud to partner with Traveller Made as a Preferred Destination.

“The Principality is a legendary land of glamour and a renowned luxury destination. It offers the highest level of hospitality and delivers the quality of service expected by Traveller Made travel designers and their clients,” Antognelli said.

“In a moment where the travel and tourism industry struggles to adapt its model to an unprecedented crisis, Monaco is committed to a high level of safety, everywhere and for everyone, together with the highest standard of services, and, more importantly, to keep the destination’s legend vibrant and alive.

“The Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Authority look forward to cooperating closely with Traveller Made travel designers for creating bespoke experiences for their customers.”

Expansion achieved during a challenging period

Desurmont said the network growth, which included 73 new members and partners joining Traveller Made between April and September 2020 is “a notable achievement in view of the current conditions”.

“Guided by a need to facilitate relations and encourage the exchange of ideas, they have chosen to turn to a dynamic network with a solid European base,” he said.

“Traveller Made is both the most international network of all and the only one specialising in ultra-luxury.”

“The diversity of new partners who join the network is a considerable asset: it enables synergies to be created around the sharing of experiences at a global level.”

The travel company also noted partner appreciation for its “innovation and agility”, which in 2020 saw the annual (physical) Essence of Luxury travel show in Marbella, Spain succumb to the impact of the coronavirus.

The show arranged an alternative virtual solution supported by ultra-luxury brands including Aman, Oetker Collection, Cheval-Blanc, Kerzner/One&Only Resorts, Belmond and The Peninsula. Over four days, nearly 10,500 virtual meetings were organised and 420 members and partners took part.

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Traveller made.

If you’re a discerning traveller who demands the best, then Traveller Made is the luxury travel network for you. Founded in 2013, Traveller Made is an exclusive network of luxury travel designers who create bespoke travel experiences for the world’s most discerning travellers. With over 300 members in more than 70 countries around the world, Traveller Made is the ultimate resource for luxury travel planning.

What is Traveller Made?

Traveller Made is a network of luxury travel designers who specialize in creating tailor-made travel experiences for discerning clients. The network was founded in 2013 by Quentin Desurmont and Pierre Desaulty, two travel industry veterans who wanted to create a community of like-minded travel professionals who shared a passion for luxury travel.

Today, Traveller Made has over 300 members in more than 70 countries around the world. Members are carefully selected based on their expertise, experience, and reputation in the luxury travel industry.

What services does Traveller Made offer?

Traveller Made offers a wide range of services to its members, including:

• Bespoke travel planning
• VIP airport services
• Private transfers
• Private jets and helicopters
• Luxury accommodations
• Exclusive access to events and attractions
• Personalized experiences
• 24/7 support

Traveller Made members have access to all of these services and more, ensuring that their clients receive the highest level of luxury and personalized service.

Why choose Traveller Made?

There are many reasons to choose Traveller Made for your luxury travel needs, including:

• Expertise: Traveller Made members are experts in the luxury travel industry, with years of experience and a deep knowledge of the destinations they specialize in.
• Personalized service: Traveller Made members create bespoke travel experiences tailored to their clients’ unique needs and preferences.
• Exclusive access: Traveller Made members have access to exclusive events, attractions, and accommodations that are not available to the general public.
• 24/7 support: Traveller Made members provide their clients with 24/7 support, ensuring that they are always taken care of no matter where they are in the world.

With Traveller Made, you can rest assured that your luxury travel experience will be nothing short of extraordinary.

How do I become a Traveller Made member?

To become a Traveller Made member, you must be a luxury travel designer who meets the network’s strict criteria for expertise, experience, and reputation. Members are carefully selected based on these criteria, ensuring that only the best and most experienced travel professionals are part of the network.

If you meet the criteria and are interested in becoming a Traveller Made member, you can apply online through the network’s website. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you will become part of an exclusive community of luxury travel professionals.

Traveller Made is the ultimate luxury travel network for discerning travellers who demand the best. With over 300 members in more than 70 countries around the world, Traveller Made offers bespoke travel planning, VIP airport services, private transfers, luxury accommodations, and much more. If you’re looking for a truly extraordinary luxury travel experience, look no further than Traveller Made.

Travellermade

Emporium Travel is a founding member Agent of Traveller Made.

Traveller Made® is a network community of travel designers dedicated to providing unique and exclusive bespoke journeys to travellers looking for different and original experiences, requiring skilled and knowledgeable advisors who are committed to fully servicing their clients.

The Traveller Made® network community gathers agencies selected by-invitation-only.

Travel Designers

Selected travel agencies are on-demand and bespoke travel designers.

Unique and exclusive bespoke journeys

Journeys are designed and produced on demand and are unique. Member agencies, mainly, produce 100% bespoke holidays all over the world.

Travellers looking for different and original experiences

Luxury travellers expect their perception of the world to be transformed by new travel ideas. Luxury travellers are individuals or groups looking for family journeys or corporate travel and incentive programmes.

Skilled and knowledgeable advisors

Travel advisors selected by Traveller Made® have been in the business for more than 10 years and have an extensive knowledge of many different countries, activities, cultures and holiday styles.

Committed to fully servicing their clients

Travel advisors selected by Traveller Made® believe that luxury service is all about trying to understand their client’s unique expectations and being committed to meeting their needs.

Traveller Made® Member Agencies are choosen after a 2 stage process

1/ Invited travel designers have been pre-selected by 2 steering committees that gather luxury hoteliers and tailor-made incoming agencies. Once a potential Member Agency has been pre-selected, Traveller Made® invites them to officially apply.

2/ In the application process, travel designers must provide detailed information about their business, their growth strategy and their organisation. The decision to accept a travel designer as a member agency depends on the information we receive and whether it matches our manifesto.

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New member of the “Serandipians by Traveller Made®” network

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Looking into luxury travel: We are now a member of the exclusive network Serandipians by Traveller Made®

Since the 1 st of June 2022 that we are now a member of Serandipians, the network of the global luxury travel industry. The association is made up of top-class travel agencies and tourism partners.

For our team, the new membership will create more synergies on a global level. “We can only benefit from the exchange with our international colleagues,” says our PAS Managing Director Birte Kipke. “We meet travel designers, hotels and agencies that serve similar guests.” We hope to be able to respond even better to the wishes of customers in the luxury segment, especially considering all the different nationalities. “Trust and encounters at eye level are needed,” says Kipke. Because often it is only a feeling that makes a trip unforgettable.

About the Serandipians network

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Hurricane Beryl tracker: Storm makes landfall in Texas, see spaghetti models, path

Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 near Matagorda, Texas early Monday morning.

The storm made landfall 110 miles south of Houston.

The state faces 75 mph winds and life-threatening storm surge. Heavy rainfall, and flash and urban flooding are expected to impact the eastern part of the state, according to the National Hurricane Center .

A tornado watch will remain in effect for southeastern Texas until 10 a.m. local time, states the National Weather Service .

Beryl is now a tropical depression: Track storm's projected path, spaghetti models, latest details

Where will the storm go?

The storm is moving 12 mph north. The following areas can expect to see 3-5 inches of rain tonight into Tuesday:

• Southeast Oklahoma
• Southern Missouri

Live updates: Forecasters fear Beryl will rapidly strengthen as it heads for Texas

Hurricane Beryl path tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Hurricane Beryl spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.

Atlantic storm tracker

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Gabe Hauari ,  N'Dea Yance-Bragg, Susan Miller, John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, Dinah Voyles Pulver & Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY-Network Florida

At dinner with Vladimir Putin, PM Modi makes a direct appeal to end war with Ukraine

M oscow/IBNS, July 9 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday made the most direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war which has been going on for over two years during a dinner at the laters residence as a part of his -two-day official visit to Moscow.

During an informal meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the latters official residence in Moscow, PM Modi told him that no solution could be found on the battleground.

India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward, PM Modi is believed to have told Putin during the dinner, according to reports.

Additionally, PM Modi raised concerns about Indian nationals being deceived into joining the Russian army by unscrupulous travel agents.

Held productive discussions with President Putin at the Kremlin today. Our talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in sectors such as trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation. We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and pic.twitter.com/JfiidtNYa8

Nearly two dozen Indians are believed to have been forced into fighting the war against Ukraine after being tricked by agents into going to the country on the pretext of getting high-paying jobs.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modis brief visit to Russia and his interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly mentioning the hug shared between the two leaders amid Moscows war with Ukraine.

Zelenskkys post came after PM Modi met President Putin in Moscow and shared an embrace.

Visuals from their meeting showed the two leaders drinking tea on a terrace at Putins home in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, and the Indian being driven around in a golf cart.

One photo in particular, where Modi is seen hugging Putin, has been widely shared online.

It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day...the Ukraine President tweeted.

In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russias brutal missile strike.

A Russian missile struck the largest childrens hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were pic.twitter.com/V1k7PEz2rJ

PM Modi flew to Moscow on a two-day visit in what is seen as maintaining a longstanding relationship and courting closer ties with the West amid the war in Ukraine.

This is the Prime Ministers first visit since assuming his third term in office.

It is also his first visit to Russia since the war in Ukraine began.shb

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from India Blooms.

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100 elephants are moving across the U.S. — a herd of life-size replicas

Chloe Veltman

June 24, 2024: 100 life-size elephant sculptures made by artisans in Tamil Nadu, India, arrive in Newport, R.I., via the Port of New York — the first stop on a year-long, cross-country journey. Sebastian Meyer, Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation. hide caption

Visitors will be able to get close to — and even touch — 100 life-size sculptures of Indian elephants which are beginning a cross-country journey.

The Great Elephant Migration traveling art exhibition aims to spread awareness about conservation efforts.

The herd consists of replicas of real-life elephants personally known to The Coexistence Collective — the community of around 200 artisans in southern India who made them.

Conceived a decade ago by The Coexistence Collective together with Elephant Family USA , a nonprofit that helps protect Indian wildlife, the sculptures were first shown in London and India before coming to the U.S.

The herd can be seen in Newport, R.I., through early September. From there they will head to New York City, Miami, the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana and finally Los Angeles.

The organization is planning to sell the elephants off to raise funds for 22 conservation organizations around the country as the tour progresses. Organizers said 30 sculptures had already been sold off, with prices ranging from $8,000 for a baby elephant to $22,000 for the largest tusked specimen.

In Newport, the proceeds will go to Save the Bay , which works to remove invasive weeds from local salt marshes in order to help restore the salt marsh sparrow population.

Turning an invasive weed into an art material

The enormous, life-like sculptures are made out of lantana camara — a tough, invasive weed that’s been encroaching heavily upon the elephants’ natural forest habitat, pushing the animals onto tea and coffee plantations where they live in much closer proximity to humans.

"Lantana has displaced animals across huge areas, because it takes over from herbs and shrubs that are edible for animals," said Tarsh Thekaekara, a wildlife conservationist specializing in human-elephant relations who's connected with the Great Elephant Migration project. "40 to 50% of many parks in India are taken over by Lantana."

From elephants in India to coyote and raccoons in the U.S.

Elephant Family USA trustee and Coexistence Collective cofounder Ruth Ganesh said that even though the exhibition has traveled internationally, it was always conceived with the U.S. in mind, because Americans already understand what it means to share urban environments with wild animals like coyote and raccoons.

The elephants on display in Newport, R.I. Corey Favino, Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation. hide caption

"You have such an array of wildlife where there are genuine coexistence challenges," said Ganesh. "So this exhibition about elephants coexisting with humans brings the issue to life."

She hopes visitors will learn more about how important it is for animals and humans to negotiate shared space, as more places become uninhabitable for both owing to direct human destruction and the impacts of human-caused climate change.

2 Wisconsin resorts make Travel + Leisure magazine's 2024 World's Best lists

Every year Travel + Leisure magazine asks its readers to share their opinions on their favorite travel destinations in a number of categories, and this year, Wisconsin landed on their lists twice.

Sundara Inn & Spa in Wisconsin Dells topped the list for destination spas in the United States. It's quite an achievement since the list of 15 spas was dominated by California and southwest states. According to Travel + Leisure, its position at the top of the rankings was also a surprise since the spa hadn't made the list at all in the past few years.

Spas were rated on their facilities, treatments, service, food and value, and Travel + Leisure readers rated Sundara high, with one surveyed guest calling the resort "a hidden gem in Wisconsin. I truly feel refreshed and uplifted after leaving the property at the end of my stay. It has been awesome to see their growth and building over the years to accommodate the number of people that go there."

Kohler's American Club Resort Hotel also ranked on a Travel + Leisure list : eighth on the magazine's 10 favorite resorts in the Midwest. The American Club has been a boutique hotel since 1981 and is known for its restaurant, spa and world-class golf courses.

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• University of Wisconsin System

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Travel Incorporated open ticket credits are also no longer visible in Concur. For more information visit the  UW TravelWIse agency transition page  or reach out to your campus travel manager.

Florida residents were shocked to see a manatee swimming in their human-made lake. A biologist thinks she knows how it got there.

• A manatee was spotted in an artificial lake in South Florida.
• Manatees can travel through canals and drains, especially after stormy weather.
• Marine biologists think the manatee should have enough food to survive in the lake.

South Florida residents recently noticed an unusual new neighbor in their artificial lake: a manatee.

Last week, a resident of the Cedarwoods neighborhood in Pembroke Pines took video footage of the marine mammal swimming around, the news station WPLG Local 10 reported. A couple also spotted the manatee in late June, and they said it had a baby with it.

"This is the first one we've seen on the lake," Bill Barnett, one of the residents who filmed the sea cow, told the news station.

How did the manatee reach an inland lake?

The artificial lake is about 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

Looking at a map, it may seem as if the manatee wouldn't have a good route from the coast to the lake, but there are underground passageways that maps don't show.

Amber Howell, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , told Business Insider there are large pipes called culverts under the roads.

"The culverts in this area are big enough for manatee to safely swim through," she said. There's a floodgate in the area that it would've had to navigate, but it's often open during the state's rainy season.

Related stories

That's probably how this manatee ended up in its current locale.

Manatees can travel hundreds of miles in search of food

Florida manatees, a sub-species of the West Indian manatee, have faced difficulty finding food in the past several years, with hundreds dying annually. Algae blooms that kill seagrass, a huge source of food for the manatees, are partly to blame.

Though they're marine mammals, manatees can survive in fresh, brackish, and salty water. And they can roam quite far in search of food and warm water.

Some Florida manatees travel through the ocean around the US, from Texas to as far north as Delaware. But the mammals also spend a lot of time in freshwater rivers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

Since they prefer shallow water, they'll often head inland, like this manatee. Finding food in the lake shouldn't be too difficult, either.

"In this area, there is a lot of shoreline vegetation, which they'll take advantage of," Howell said.

Manatees have been seen in this area for the past few years, so the big visitor isn't unique. Howell said biologists had "absolutely no concern" for this particular animal.

How to help your neighborhood manatee

Howell said people could sometimes be a little overzealous in trying to help manatees. They may see a manatee in shallow water and try to move it deeper.

But sometimes, it's an exhausted female who's taking a rest from a nearby mating herd. "It's the worst-case scenario to push her back into that group," Howell said.

She said that if Florida residents are concerned about a manatee who seems in distress, they can call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

Watch: Giant seaweed blob floating to Florida can be seen from space

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This New Jersey hotel was named one of the top 500 resorts in the world

A New Jersey resort made Travel and Leisure's list of the 500 best hotels and resorts in the world .

Each year, Travel and Leisure conducts its World's Best Awards survey which compiles readers' votes for the best hotels, airlines, cities, trains, national parks and more.

Landing on the 2023 list alongside private island resorts, luxurious ski-in, ski-out hotels, private villas, and plenty of big-name stays is Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.

Here is everything you need to know about this lavish AC stay.

Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City

Located along the Atlantic City boardwalk, Ocean Casino Resort is described on its website as the city's "premier oceanfront casino resort."

This upscale beachfront hotel towers over the city, providing guests with gorgeous ocean views throughout the interior.

Aside from the casino, a staple of all Atlantic City resorts and hotels, Ocean offers a variety of entertainment options, nightlife, pools, a luxurious spa, a rooftop park overlooking the ocean, bars, restaurants and more. The resort is rated four stars on TripAdvisor and No. 1 of the three resorts in Atlantic City.

Location: 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08471

Rooms and Suites: One Bedroom Suite, Studio Suite, Contemporary Queen, Contemporary King, Social Suite with One Bedroom, Social Suite with Two Bedrooms

Price range: From $99 - $749 depending on room/suite and date

To book a room, view upcoming events, or for any additional information you can visit theoceanac.com .

You can read Travel and Leisure's full list of the top 500 hotels and resorts in the world in its May 2024 issue on newsstands or digitally on Apple News+.

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

Where to stay in moscow, moscow itinerary, day 1 itinerary in moscow, day 2 itinerary in moscow, day 3 and beyond, staying safe in moscow, day trips from moscow, faq on moscow itinerary.

Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

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If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring  (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV,  in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral  | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

• Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
• Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees. 
• Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic! 

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

• Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
• Cost: USD $15.00
• Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

• Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
• Cost: Free!
• Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

• Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
• Cost: USD $8.00
• Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

• Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
• Cost: Free to enter
• Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

• Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
• Cost: USD $5.00
• Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for! 

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture! 

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

• Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
• Cost: Free! 
• Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months.  A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

• Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
• Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov.  The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner! 

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

• Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres. 
• Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics. 

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

• Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
• Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 –  USD $228.00 based on seat location.
• Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

• Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

• Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
• This museum is fun for both adults and children!
• Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

• A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
• Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
• The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

• Television and radio tower in Moscow
• Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
• Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

• The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
• Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
• Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

• Closed on Mondays
• Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
• The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy! 

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided!  Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

Alya and Campbell

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelenskyy appears to admit concern over what US election means for war

A NATO summit is getting under way in Washington, with support for Ukraine top of the agenda after a children's hospital was hit by a Russian missile. You can hear more about the damage caused by the attack and the world's reaction in the podcast below.

Wednesday 10 July 2024 08:06, UK

• Zelenskyy appears to admit concern over what US election means for war
• NATO allies commit to sending air defence systems to Ukraine
• Doctor recalls 'hell' of attack on children's hospital
• Ivor Bennett analysis: Modi's comments during visit prove awkward for Putin
• Deborah Haynes analysis: Russia sending a message to NATO
• Your questions answered: Has the West been honest about Ukraine's failures? | Is Kyiv next?
• Listen to the Daily podcast above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts 
• Live reporting by Katie Williams  

Russia claims to have thwarted an attack on one of its warships and detained a Ukrainian special services agent, according to state media.

The TASS news agency cited Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) as claiming that the agent was preparing a "terrorist attack" against three "high-ranking" defence ministry servicemen.

Search and rescue operations related to Russia's mass missile attack on Kyiv have ended, Ukraine's State Emergency Service has said. 

Vladimir Putin's forces launched the strike on the capital city on Monday, with one missile directly hitting the Okhmatdyt children's hospital. 

A total of 33 people, including five children, were killed in the attack and a further 121 were injured, the State Emergency Service said. 

"These have been tragic, tense, and exhausting days," it added in a Telegram post .

"Emergency rescuers and dozens of pieces of equipment have been continuously clearing the rubble, trying to save every life."

In total, emergency workers rescued 11 people. 

The strike was one of the deadliest bombardments of Kyiv in several months. 

Moscow has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but our data and forensics team has confirmed the weapon used on the hospital was an air-launched cruise missile from Russia.

You can read more about the team's discoveries here ...

Two people have been killed in a Russian missile attack in a southern Ukrainian city, the local governor has said.

The strike on Odesa has also damaged a civilian ship, port infrastructure, warehouses and trucks, Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. 

He did not identify the two people killed, but confirmed one was a security guard and the other was a truck driver.

"Another man, a watchman, was injured. Currently, the victim is receiving all the necessary help in the hospital," he added. 

It comes after the Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched five missiles and 20 drones overnight, with Odesa port as one of the targets. 

A total of 14 drones were shot down by Ukrainian forces, it said. 

Sir Keir Starmer will meet the US president and other NATO leaders at a summit celebrating the military alliance's 75th birthday today. 

The prime minister has been pressing for European nations to increase defence spending. 

However, he has refused to guarantee that he will meet his flagship commitment on defence spending within his first term in office, despite a "cast iron" promise to get there.

Speaking to reporters, Sir Keir was repeatedly pressed on whether the goal of spending 2.5% of GDP would be reached.

He said: "We are committed to the 2.5%, as I have said before the election and I say again after the election. That is obviously subject to our fiscal rules, but the commitment is there.

"The strategic review will take place, that will happen next week, and we will set out the details of that."

Later this afternoon, he will hold talks with Joe Biden in the White House. 

It comes as Mr Biden is facing domestic pressures over his age and ability to run the US for a second term. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that the US election may prevent the West from providing Ukraine with the support it needs to repel and push back Russia over the coming months.

He used the opening of a NATO summit to urge world leaders to accelerate assistance - perhaps mindful that the willingness of the US to provide aid could change if Donald Trump is elected in November. 

The Ukrainian president said Vladimir Putin believes that "war might pay" and is "trying to humiliate America" by breaking free nations. 

Delivering a pivotal address during a NATO summit last night, he said: "It's time to step out of the shadows to make strong decisions to act and not wait for November or any other months to descend. 

"We must be strong and uncompromising all together." 

He added that the US must be "uncompromising in defending democracy, uncompromising against Putin and his coterie". 

"How much longer can Putin last? The answer to this question is right here in Washington. Your leadership, your actions, your choice. The choice to act now," he said. 

Mr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington was the latest in a series of trips where he has called for more military assistance to defend his country against Russia.

It comes as he continues to push for Ukraine to become a NATO member - a demand that current members are not in a hurry to meet. 

As the NATO summit continues, he'll be trying to navigate a tumultuous American political landscape as Joe Biden attempts to show his strength on the world stage amid concerns about his ability to lead. 

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine, as NATO leaders meet in Washington in the wake of devastating Russian strikes.

We'll bring you updates and analysis throughout the day - but first, here's a recap of the key developments over the course of the last 24 hours.

• US President Joe Biden opened NATO's summit in Washington by promising further air defence support to Ukraine;
• Mr Biden said Kyiv would go "to the front of the line" when it came to delivering tactical air defence systems;
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the world leaders who have condemned Russia's attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv;
• Russia has pledged to begin discharging Indian nationals who had been "misled" into joining its military;
• A state-owned arms manufacturer from Ukraine has opened its first foreign office in Washington;
• A court in Moscow's issued an arrest warrant for the widow of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, after accusing her of being part of an "extremist" group. 

We are ending our live coverage for today. 

Scroll back to find out all the day's latest developments. 

Jen Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, was awarded the presidential medal of freedom by President Joe Biden during the ceremony in Washington tonight. 

But what exactly is the honour?

In short, the medal of freedom is the highest civilian honour in the US.

It is presented to individuals who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavours," the White House website states.

Other recipients of the medal of freedom from this year include former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh. 

Presenting Mr Stoltenberg with the medal earlier tonight, Mr Biden said: "NATO's alliance of nations is also made up of leaders. 

"And one person in particular has done an extraordinary job of leading NATO for the last decade.

"So much of the progress made by the alliance is thanks to the secretary. He is a man of integrity, intellectual rigour and a diplomat who works with leaders across the political spectrum."

Speaking directly to Mr Stoltenberg, Mr Biden said: "Secretary, you have guided this alliance through one of its most consequential periods in its history... 

"Today NATO is stronger, and more energised than when you began."

Mr Stoltenberg is due to stay on as secretary general until October after the 31 NATO states decided to keep him on rather than opting for a replacement.

President Joe Biden's speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO was a "passionate reaffirmation of the power of the alliance," our US correspondent Mark Stone says. 

Stone says surrounded by pomp and ceremony, Mr Biden defended the importance of NATO, which he said has only been strengthened since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

"What is clear is that behind all of what we have watched is it is a significant challenge," Stone says.

"On its 75th birthday, NATO faces the greatest challenge it has ever faced, and it is clear to is that Vladimir Putin believes has the upper hand. 

"What we did not hear from President Biden is any talk of Ukraine joining NATO immediately, but that will be a focus of discussions over the next few days."

The "elephant in the room" during the speech was Mr Biden's performance, Stone goes on to say.

The US president has been under intense pressure over the last few days to prove he is capable to remain in the Oval Office following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. 

But, according to Stone, the US leader "appeared to be pretty word-perfect" speaking with the help of an autocue. 

"I am sure his team will be pretty pleased in what was a very important moment for him," says Stone.

President Joe Biden has just finished speaking at a NATO summit in Washington.

During his speech, he announced that the US and other NATO allies will send Ukraine dozens of air defence systems in the coming months - including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been desperately seeking.

According to the statement, the US, Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries, while the Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. 

While Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defence system. 

Other nations, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the UK, will provide a number of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage.

Earlier today, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post that air defence is still his country's key request, adding he is "confident we will succeed" in being given them.

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