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First Travel, Awal Berdiri, Lakukan Penipuan hingga Akhirnya Tumbang

Kompas.com tren, nur rohmi aida,, resa eka ayu sartika.

Tim Redaksi

Nur Rohmi Aida

Penulis resa eka ayu sartika.

First Travel didirikan oleh Andika Surachman beserta istrinya Anniesa Desvitasari Hasibuan.

Sebelum memiliki First Travel, Andika adalah seorang pramuniaga di sebuah gerai minimarket.

Sambil melakoni profesinya, Andika juga melanjutkan pendidikannya ke jenjang perguruan tinggi di tahun 2004.

Usai menikah, ia selanjutnya menjalani pekerjan dengan magang di sebuah bank swasta.

Tahun 2008, ayah mertuanya yang merupakan pengusaha batubara meninggal dunia sehingga ketika itu Andika harus membiayai keluarga kecilnya beserta mertua dan adik-adiknya.

Gaji yang tak seberapa sementara ia harus menghidupi 7 orang keluarga akhirnya membuatnya memutuskan kuliah dan fokus mencari nafkah.

Melansir dari Kompas.com (17/02/2015), Andika mengaku, ketika itu sembari bekerja, ia dan istri menjual apa saja. Mulai dari  handphone , burger, seprai sampai cetak foto.

Namun usahanya tak laku-laku. Bahkan modal usaha yang mereka gunakan sampai habis.

Bermodal Nekat

Tanpa pengalaman, hanya bermodal nekat Andika kemudian membuka usaha travel.

Ia membuat izin CV dengan nama First Karya Utama.

Guna modal usaha, keluarga sepakat…

Tag korban first travel kasus first travel sidang first travel.

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Aset First Travel Dirampas Negara, Mahkamah Agung Putuskan Dikembalikan ke Jemaah

Kompas.com news megapolitan, abdul haris maulana.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com -  Puluhan ribu jemaah korban penipuan agen perjalanan haji dan umrah First Travel tampaknya sudah bisa merasa lega.

Sebab, dalam putusan peninjauan kembali (PK), Mahkamah Agung (MA) telah memutuskan untuk mengembalikan aset korban kepada para jemaah yang sebelumnya dirampas negara.

"Kabul," demikian tulis amar putusan Nomor 365 PK/Pid.Sus/2022, dilansir dari laman resmi MA, Kamis (5/1/2023).

Sebelumnya, First Travel mengajukan PK ke Pengadilan Negeri Depok pada Selasa (11/8/2020) agar asetnya dikembalikan negara.

Baca juga: Kasus First Travel dan Celah Ganti Rugi Korban Indra Kenz-Doni Salmanan

"Kuasa hukum meminta agar semua aset First Travel harus segera dikembalikan kepada para terpidana agar bisa melaksanakan perjanjian damai kepada para calon jemaah," kata Boris Tampubolon, kuasa hukum terpidana Andika Surrachman, melalui keterangan tertulis kepada Kompas.com , Senin (10/8/2020).

Sebagai informasi, Pengadilan Negeri Depok memvonis tiga bos First Travel, yakni Andika Surrachman, Aniessa Hasibuan, dan Kiki Hasibuan, bersalah dalam kasus penipuan jemaah umrah.

Ketiganya divonis telah menipu dan menggelapkan uang 63.310 calon jemaah umrah dengan total kerugian mencapai Rp 905 miliar.

Namun, Pengadilan Negeri Depok menyatakan bahwa aset First Travel dirampas oleh negara sesuai Pasal 39 jo Pasal 46 jo Pasal 194 KUHP, bukan dikembalikan kepada jemaah yang telah merugi.

Baca juga: Berkaca Kasus First Travel, Pakar Ingatkan Agar Uang Korban Binomo dan Quotex Harus Kembali

Di tingkat kasasi, Mahkamah Agung melalui Putusan Nomor 3096K/PID.SUS/2018, tertanggal 31 Januari 2019 juga memutuskan hal yang sama.

"Puncaknya, pada akhir tahun 2019, Kejaksaan RI Depok berencana mengeksekusi harta yang dirampas negara tersebut. Putusan tersebut sangat tidak mencerminkan rasa keadilan di masyarakat, baik bagi terpidana maupun puluhan ribu calon jemaah," jelas Boris.

"Saat ini, satu-satunya jalan untuk mengobati rasa keadilan dan mewujudkan tujuan penegakan hukum pada perkara First Travel adalah melalui upaya hukum luar biasa, PK (peninjauan kembali)," tambahnya.

Boris mengeklaim, pengajuan PK ini dilakukan agar penegakan hukum "mewujudkan keadilan, kepastian hukum, dan kemanfaatan dalam masyarakat".

Baca juga: Ini Alasan First Travel Ajukan PK untuk Aset yang Dirampas Negara

Ia mengaku bahwa upaya ini sebagai bentuk kepedulian, selain terhadap terpidana, juga terhadap 63.000 calon jemaah haji dan umrah First Travel yang tak memperoleh ganti rugi apa pun.

Tag Mahkamah Agung First Travel

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Polemik perampasan aset kasus First Travel oleh negara: bagaimana agar korban bisa memperoleh ganti rugi

Research fellow, Indonesia Judicial Research Society

Disclosure statement

Maria Isabel Tarigan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Kasus penipuan dan pencucian uang yang dilakukan oleh perusahaan penyedia jasa perjalanan umrah First Travel masih menimbulkan polemik.

Setelah Mahkamah Agung (MA) memutuskan negara dapat merampas aset First Travel yang bermasalah di tingkat kasasi pada Januari silam , Kejaksaan Negeri Depok menyatakan akan melelang aset tersebut demi melaksanakan putusan MA .

Tindakan Kejaksaan tersebut diprotes oleh banyak pihak, terutama para korban penipuan First Travel. Jemaah yang telah membayar ke First Travel menyatakan bahwa kalaupun aset perusahaan dilelang, hasilnya harus dikembalikan kepada korban sebagai pihak yang dirugikan dalam kasus tersebut.

Setidaknya sebanyak 63.310 calon jemaah umrah telah menjadi korban penipuan First Travel. Total kerugian mencapai Rp900 miliar termasuk uang para korban yang sudah membayar biaya perjalanan tapi tidak diberangkatkan.

Dalam perkembangan terakhir, jemaah First Travel mengajukan gugatan perdata ke Pengadilan Negeri Depok dengan nomor perkara 52/Pdt.G/2019/PN.DPK. Melalui gugatannya, penggugat meminta Kejaksaan untuk menunda eksekusi lelang sampai perkara tersebut diputus pada 25 November nanti.

Polemik seperti ini bisa dihindari jika pemerintah mau menerapkan prinsip keadilan restoratif dalam hukum pidana.

Prinsip keadilan restoratif adalah pendekatan penyelesaian masalah hukum yang mendahulukan kepentingan korban .

Salah satu pasal yang bisa digunakan untuk mewujudkan keadilan restoratif dalam kasus First Travel adalah Pasal 98 Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Acara Pidana (KUHAP) .

Pasal ini mengatur mekanisme penggabungan ganti kerugian dengan proses penuntutan tindak pidana sehingga korban karena tidak perlu mengajukan gugatan yang berbeda dan menjalani persidangan terpisah untuk memperoleh ganti kerugian.

Keadilan restoratif untuk kepentingan Korban

Sejatinya, hukum pidana memang mengatur urusan antara individu atau badan hukum dengan negara, mengingat tujuan dari hukum pidana adalah untuk melindungi kepentingan umum . Perbuatan yang dapat mengancam kehidupan bermasyarakat dan bernegara dapat diancam dengan hukuman. Bentuk hukuman yang diberikan pun berbeda-beda, bisa berupa denda, penjara, hingga bentuk yang paling ekstrem yaitu hukuman mati.

Dalam putusannya, majelis hakim MA melihat bahwa aset yang dimiliki First Travel merupakan hasil kejahatan pidana sehingga negara bisa merampasnya. Putusan ini memperkuat putusan-putusan pengadilan sebelumnya di Pengadilan Negeri Depok dan Pengadilan Tinggi Bandung, Jawa Barat.

Putusan tersebut diambil dengan mempertimbangkan masalah teknis jika aset First Travel harus dikembalikan ke jemaahnya yang jumlahnya ribuan.

Perampasan aset dalam hukum pidana bisa dilakukan oleh negara sebagai bentuk pertanggungjawaban terhadap negara. Oleh karena itu, putusan MA dan pengadilan di bawahnya bisa dibenarkan di mata hukum.

Tapi akibat dari putusan ini, korban tidak dapat memperoleh keadilan. Mereka tidak dapat mendapatkan ganti rugi atas tindak pidana penipuan dan pencucian uang yang dilakukan pemilik First Travel Andika Surrachman, Anniesa Hasibuan, dan Kiki Hasibuan.

Ini mengapa keberadaan Pasal 98 KUHAP bisa menjadi solusi karena membuka peluang adanya penggabungan gugatan perkara dalam mekanisme peradilan pidana.

Teknis mekanisme peradilan

Penggabungan gugatan yang dimungkinkan oleh Pasal 98 KUHAP bisa terjadi apabila ganti rugi yang dimintakan merupakan akibat dari tindak pidana yang sedang diproses di peradilan tersebut.

Agar penggabungan perkara dapat dilakukan, korban harus berinisiatif meminta kepada hakim ketua yang sedang mengadili perkara pidana agar gugatan ganti kerugian dapat digabungkan dengan perkara pidana tersebut.

Permintaan ini juga harus diajukan sebelum tuntutan dibacakan di persidangan. Atas permintaan korban, hakim kemudian akan menetapkan untuk menggabungkan perkara ganti kerugian dengan perkara pidana tersebut.

Dengan digabungkannya kedua perkara tersebut, hakim kemudian akan mengadili perkara ganti kerugian bersamaan dengan perkara pidananya.

Selain menimbang apakah terdakwa bersalah atau tidak dalam melakukan tindak pidana yang didakwakan, hakim juga akan menimbang apakah benar kerugian yang digugat oleh korban merupakan akibat dari tindak pidana tersebut, dan apakah ganti kerugian tersebut dapat dikabulkan.

Jika kemudian terdakwa diputus bersalah dan ganti kerugian dapat dikabulkan, putusan tentang ganti kerugian akan memiliki kekuatan hukum yang sama dengan putusan pidananya, dan dengan demikian, pelaku akan dihukum pula untuk membayar ganti kerugian kepada korban.

Perkembangan hukum pidana

Konsep pemberian ganti kerugian terhadap korban selama ini dianggap bukan merupakan ruang lingkup hukum pidana, melainkan hukum perdata yang mengatur hubungan antarindividu.

Tidak heran jika pandangan masyarakat terhadap hukum pidana adalah sebatas pada pemberian hukuman sebagai konsekuensi atas suatu perbuatan agar timbul efek jera pada diri pelaku.

Akan tetapi, hukum pidana saat ini semakin berkembang. Kini pemidanaan tidak hanya sebatas penghukuman terhadap pelaku, melainkan juga berfokus pada perlindungan korban serta upaya pemulihan terhadap suatu akibat dari perbuatan tindak pidana.

Prinsip perlindungan korban dan pemulihan dalam hukum pidana sekarang ini merupakan salah satu penekanan dalam keadilan restoratif . Peran korban dan pihak lain yang terdampak oleh tindak pidana juga menjadi unsur penting dalam mewujudkan keadilan restoratif ini.

Belajar dari First Travel

Kasus First Travel bisa menjadi pembelajaran dalam upaya menerapkan pendekatan keadilan restoratif terhadap tindak pidana yang secara nyata menyebabkan kerugian materiil bagi korbannya.

Jika saja jaksa penuntut umum memberitahu hak korban mengenai ketentuan Pasal 98 KUHAP dan mendorong korban untuk memintakan penggabungan kepada hakim, besar kemungkinan bahwa hasil lelang aset First Travel yang disita akan terlebih dahulu digunakan untuk membayar ganti kerugian yang diderita oleh korban, bukan diserahkan kepada negara.

Penggunaan pasal ini sebenarnya bisa menjadi peluang bagi aparat penegak hukum untuk melindungi kepentingan korban First Travel. Sayangnya, aparat penegak hukum dalam kasus First Travel tidak menggunakan ketentuan Pasal 98 KUHAP, sehingga yang terjadi justru sebaliknya: aset yang dirampas justru menjadi milik negara dan tidak digunakan untuk mengganti kerugian korban.

Saya berharap para penegak hukum bisa lebih optimal menggunakan Pasal 98 KUHAP agar korban tindak pidana juga memperoleh keadilan dari sistem peradilan pidana.

Sosialisasi keberadaan pasal ini kepada aparat penegak hukum dan khususnya pada masyarakat perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat akan adanya mekanisme ganti kerugian ini sehingga harapannya kasus seperti First Travel ini tidak lagi terjadi pada masa depan.

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Inilah kisah Anniesa-Andika membangun First Travel

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Reporter: Titis Nurdiana | Editor: Titis Nurdiana

KONTAN.CO.ID. Jejak Anniesa Desvitasari Hasibuan dan Andika Andika Surachman makin terang, pasca polisi menangkap kedua pasangan suami istri  atas dugaan penipuan jamaah umrah First Travel.

Meski sudah dicokok polisi, pasangan suami istri (pasutri) ini yang juga pemilik biro umrah di bawah bendera PT First Anugerah Karya Wisata mengaku masih yakin bisa memberangkatkan ribuan jamaah umrahnya. Bahkan keduanya juga merasa tak melakukan penipunan. Makanya, lewat pengacaranya, mereka meminta penangguhan penahan ke polisi.

 “Ibu masih menyusui karena baru melahirkan tiga minggu, sementara Pak Andika sakit perlu minum obat. Jadi kami minta penangguhan penahanan,” ujar kuasa hukum First Travel Deski akhir pekan lalu di di Bareskrim Polri.  Deski berharap polisi mengabulkan permintaan tersebut. Apalagi, pemilik First Travel tersebut siap memberangkatkan ribuan jamaah umrahnya.

Menengok ke belakang, kisah pemilik First Travel terbilang penuh liku. Kepada KONTAN pada tahun 2015, Andika bertutur tentang jatuh bangun  dalam membangun bisnisnya. Dari memulai bisnis berjualan pulsa, burger sampai seprei, aneka bisnis tersebut kemudian bangkrut.

Titik terang bisnis terbuka saat Andika menjajal bisnis biro perjalanan umrah. Bermodalkan uang dari mertua, Andika memulai bisnis. Sempat jatuh, titik terang mulai saat Andika  diminta mengantar sembilan karyawan Bank Indonesia (BI) umrah. Kisah ini berlanjut lantaran Andika memenangi tender umrah di 2011 sebagai pendamping ratusan karyawan BI ke Tanah Suci.

Pasca tender itu, rezeki terus mengalir ke lulusan SMA Budi Warman 2, Jakarta Selatan. Tak ayal, Andika terus membesarkan bisnis umrahnya. Dengan menawarkan biaya umrah murah mulai Rp 14 juta hingga 34 juta,  bisnis Andika membesar.

Ia pun berani menambah 15 kantor First Travel. Andika juga berani memindahkan kantornya dari semula di  Depok ke pusat bisnis Kuningan, Jakarta.  “Kepercayaan menjadi modal saya berbisnis,” ujar Andika saat itu.  

Tahun 2012, First Travel sukses memberangkatkan jamaah umrah hingga 800 orang. Jumlahnya kian melesat di tahun 2013 menjadi 3.600 orang. Makin berlipat di tahun 2014, dengan memberangkatkan 14.700 jamaah.  Saat ulang tahun ke tujuh di 2015, Andika yakin bisa memberangkatkan 35.000 jamaah.

Akhir tahun 2016, target Andika kesampaian. Ia berhasil memberangkatkan 35.000 jamaah. Bahkan, Museum Rekor Indonesia (MURI) menyematkan First Travel dengan sebutan Manasik Akbar Umrah Terbesar di Indonesia.  Dengan catatan rekor itu, Andika yakin bisa mengempit omzet hingga US$ 40 juta atau setara Rp 528 miliar dengan kurs Rp 13.200 per rupiah. Andika juga berambisi menambah 20 cabang per tahun First Travel di seluruh Indonesia.

Seturut dengan kesuksesan Andika, nama Anniesa Desvitasari Hasibuan juga berkibar. Puncaknya di tahun 2016,  Anniesa menjadi satu-satunya perancang busana yang berhasil menembus New York Couture Fashion Week. Saat itu, karya Anniesa bertema D'Jakarta.  mendapatkan standing ovation dari sekitar 2.000 penonton fashion show tersebut. Ini mengukuhkan Anniesa sebagai salah satu desainer papan atas Indonesia.  Sukses di New York, Anniesa memboyong karyanya ke Doha, Qatar di November 2016.

Namun kisah sukses bisnis pasutri ini kini harus terhenti. Keduanya harus menyelesaikan kisruh 35.000 jamaah umrah yang menuntut agar segera diberangkatkan di Tanah Suci. Jumlah itu bisa membesar lantaran polisi menyebut ada 70.000 jamaah yang sudah membayar ke First Travel.

Menjadi semakin panjang, karena keduanya harus membuktikan dugaan pencucian uang, berhadapan dengan para jamaah di pengadilan niaga serta sanksi dari Kementerian Agama yang sudah mencabut izin First Travel sebagai biro perjalanan umrah.

Keduanya hanya punya waktu sampai hari ini,  14 Agustus  2017 untuk menyelesaikan sengkarut di First Travel. Sesuai surat pencabutan izin Kementerian Agama tertanggal 1 Agustus 2014, pemilik biro travel tersebut punya waktu 14 hari untuk membuat pembelaan atau penyanggahan. Dan, batas akhirnya pembelaan itu, jatuh tanggal 14 Agustus 2017!  

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Kisah Bos First Travel Anniesa Hasibuan: Bersinar Sekejap Jadi Desainer, Lalu Redup di Penjara

Tahu dong kasus penipuan dan penggelapan uang jemaah yang dilakukan biro perjalanan umroh PT First Anugerah Karya Wisata atau First Travel? Ya, kasus besar ini menyeret tiga nama, salah satunya Anniesa Hasibuan.

Anniesa Hasibuan  merupakan istri dari bos First Travel, Andika Surachman. Keduanya resmi menjadi tersangka dan sudah mendekam di penjara. Sementara satu tersangka lain, yakni Situ Nuraida Hasibuan alias Kiki Hasibuan.

Andika Surachman divonis pengadilan 20 tahun penjara. Kiki Hasibuan selama 15 tahun penjara. Sementara pemilik nama lengkap Anniesa Hasibuan itu dijatuhi hukuman pidana selama 18 tahun.

Kali ini, Cermati.com akan mengulas sosok dan perjalanan karier Anniesa Hasibuan. Sebelum wanita berhijab ini dijebloskan ke penjara akibat kasus penipuan umroh dengan skema ponzi tersebut, pemilik nama lengkap Anniesa Desvitasari Hasibuan itu merupakan seorang pengusaha dan perancang busana.

Mau tahu cerita lengkapnya? Berikut rangkumannya dari berbagai sumber.

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Hobi Menggambar Sejak Kecil

Berasal dari keluarga sederhana, Anniesa lahir di Jakarta, 30 Juli 1986 dari pasangan Azwidarsyah Hasibuan dan Atiek Suryani. Sejak kecil, ia sudah hobi menggambar. Bukan hanya orangtua yang mendukung hobinya tersebut, tapi juga suaminya Andika Surachman.

Sang suami mendorong Anniesa untuk mengembangkan kemampuannya dalam desain busana. Tadinya hanya merancang busana untuk diri sendiri dan keluarga. Namun lambat laun untuk orang lain. Bermula dari mendesain pakaian kerja dan baju formal lainnya.

Siapa sangka ternyata teman dan kliennya suka dengan desain yang dibuat Anniesa. Saat itulah, Wanita berusia 33 tahun itu didorong untuk membuka butik pakaian, sehingga orang lain dapat membeli baju rancangannya dengan mudah.

Jatuh Bangun Merintis Bisnis

Jauh sebelum terjun ke dunia fesyen dan merintis bisnis agen perjalanan, Anniesa pernah membuka aneka usaha. Jualan pulsa, berdagang burger hinga sprei. Semua itu dilakukan demi membantu memenuhi kebutuhan keluarga.

Ia pernah kuliah di Universitas Indonesia, namun tak selesai. Hidupnya penuh dengan kerja keras untuk mencari nafkah, termasuk bersama sang suami yang telah dinikahinya sejak 2005.

Mendirikan First Travel

Bersama sang suami, Anniesa mendirikan biro perjalanan wisata yang berkembang melayani umroh. Di bawah bendera PT First Anugerah Karya Wisata atau First Travel , bisnis ini dirintis sejak 1 Juli 2009.

Dua tahun pertama, bisnis tersebut seret. Tak juga mendapat untung. Malah tekor dengan meminjam uang di bank dengan agunan rumah. Sudah keluar duit banyak, tapi tak menghasilkan apapun.

Barulah di tahun 2011, mereka memenangkan tender umroh pertama. Kemudian berkembang pesat hingga pertengahan tahun 2017. Para jemaah tertarik menggunakan jasa First Travel karena tawaran harga umroh yang sangat murah dibanding biro perjalanan lain, yakni sekitar Rp14 juta per orang.

Siapa yang tak tergiur dengan harga tersebut? Di mana biasanya agen umroh memasang harga minimal Rp20 juta per jemaah. First Travel mampu menarik puluhan ribu jemaah.

Sayang di sayang, janji-janji bakal berangkat setahun setelah melunasi pembayaran, hanya bualan. Nasib keberangkatan mereka tak jelas. Uang yang sudah mereka setorkan pun entah ke mana.

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Membuka Butik hingga Menggelar Fashion Show di Luar Negeri

Di tengah perjalanan merintis bisnis First Travel, Anniesa membuka butik di kawasan Kemang, Jakarta Selatan pada tahun 2015. Acara peragaan busana di London, Inggris di tahun yang sama adalah debut perdana fashion show yang diikuti Anniesa.

Ia menampilkan tiga merek miliknya, yaitu Haute Couture, Ready to Wear, dan Wedding Collection. Paling menghebohkan, Anniesa berhasil masuk dan tampil di fashion show bertaraf internasional, New York Couture Fashion Week. Tepatnya pada September 2016.

Koleksinya yang bertajuk D’Jakarta dipamerkan di depan 2.000 penonton. Seluruh model yang memperagakan berlenggak lenggok di catwalk mengenakan hijab. Anniesa bangga, karyanya mendapat standing ovation.

Dikutip dari website Anniesa Hasibuan, perancang busana kondang ini sudah mengikuti 10 ajang peragaan busana di Tanah Air maupun luar negeri. Antara lain:

1. Fashion Show di London – Maret 2015

2. Single Show di Jakarta – Mei 2015

3. Hello Indonesia di London – Juni 2015

4. Trunk Show di Jakarta – Juli 2015

5. New York Couture Fashion Week – September 2015

6. KJRI New York – September 2015

7. Jakarta Fashion Week 2016 – Oktober 2015

8. MISIFF2015 di Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – November 2015

9. New York Couture Fashion Week – Februari 2016

10. Indonesia Fashion Week 2016 di Jakarta – Februari 2016.

Menggelar fashion show, apalagi di luar negeri tentu membutuhkan dana besar. Belakangan, terungkap peragaan busana Anniesa Hasibuan dibiayai dari uang jemaah First Travel.

Dinobatkan Wanita Paling Inspiratif versi Forbes, Tapi Akhirnya Dicabut

Dari beberapa penghargaan bergengsi yang diterima Anniesa Hasibuan, ada satu penghargaan yang paling fenomenal. Ia masuk salah satu dari 10 wanita inspiratif versi Majalah Forbes di tahun 2017.

Namun karena kasus penipuan dan penggelapan uang jemaah First Travel terkuak, penghargaan tersebut akhirnya dicabut oleh Forbes. Namanya dicoret dari daftar semula.

Terbukti Bersalah dan Dibui 18 Tahun

Kasus penipuan umroh oleh First Travel terbongkar. Anniesa dan suami, serta Kiki Hasibuan ditangkap pihak kepolisian. Kemudian diadili, terbukti bersalah, dan divonis dengan hukuman pidana.

Anniesa Hasibuan harus menghabiskan waktunya di balik jeruji besi selama 18 tahun dan wajib membayar denda sebesar Rp10 miliar, denda Rp10 miliar subsider 8 bulan kurungan.

Begitupun dengan Andika Surachman. Ia dihukum 20 tahun penjara dan wajib membayar denda Rp10 miliar, subsider 8 bulan kurungan. Sedangkan Kiki harus mendekam selama 15 tahun, bayar denda Rp5 miliar, dan subsider 8 bulan.

Ketiganya melakukan tindak penipuan dan pencucian uang puluhan ribu jemaah yang belum diberangkatkan. Nilainya mencapai sekitar lebih dari Rp905 miliar. Menggelapkan dana jemaah dan menggunakannya untuk hidup bermewah-mewah, membeli barang-barang bermerek, plesiran ke luar negeri, termasuk mendanai fashion show hingga Negeri Paman Sam.  

Mau Sukses? Kerja Keras, Bukan dengan Jalan Pintas

Ingat roda kehidupan terus berputar. Tidak melulu ada di bawah. Suatu saat, kamu akan berada di atas. Tapi biasanya ketika tengah berjaya, mereguk kesuksesan, orang akan lupa dengan masa lalunya.

Silau dengan harta yang telah diperoleh, sehingga hidup foya-foya. Tanpa perencanaan keuangan yang tepat. Walhasil, nasib akan membuatmu kembali terpuruk. Jatuh ke lubang yang sama, hidup susah lagi.

Kalau mau sukses, kerja keras. Bukan dengan jalan pintas dengan mengambil hak orang lain. Kerja keras pasti akan membuahkan hasil, dan membuatmu bisa menghargai uang ketika kaya raya.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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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

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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!

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!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

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.

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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!

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

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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 .

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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!

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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!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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The world's first doggy jet service will cost you $6K for a one-way ticket

Dogs will soon be able to experience their own “ fur st” class flight with the launch of the world’s first jet charter company specifically designed for man’s best friend. 

BARK, the dog toy company that coordinates the popular treat subscription BarkBox, is partnering with a jet charter service to take away the challenges of long-distance traveling with dogs, according to a press release. BARK Air, as the company calls it, offers the “white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches.”

Taking dogs on airplanes is, typically, a stressful endeavor with different airlines having different policies for pet travel. For example, American Airlines allows small dogs in a carrier to be placed under the seat in front, but larger dogs are put in the cargo space, which has been found to be stressful for the pet. For United Airlines , pets can fly in the cabin if there’s enough space, but they must fit in a carrier under the seat in front.

“We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies,” said Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BARK, in a statement. 

First-time Fido's taking to the sky? Here are tips from my flight with a dog

Learn more: Best travel insurance

However, you’ll need to pay a hefty fee for the dog-friendly flight. For now, a ticket for just one dog and one human will run you at least $6,000 one way. 

The first BARK Air flights will take off on May 23, and so far, there are only two flight routes available, both from New York’s Westchester County Airport. From New York to London’s Stansted Airport, it’ll cost $8,000 one-way and to Los Angeles’s Van Nuys Airport will cost $6,000 one-way. Tickets are available for purchase on April 11.

Not only does BARK Air allow dogs, it also focuses on the furry friends by treating them like VIPs, the press release said. BARK Air passengers can skip TSA checkpoints and screenings and instead experience a simple check-in process where they can meet the other dogs on the flight and the humans are served a meal cooked by on-site chefs. 

When boarding, a BARK Air concierge is on-hand to ensure the dogs are socializing and adjusting to the environment well. 

Each flight will undergo “Dogs Fly First” flight prep that includes “calming pheromones, music, and colors that pups prefer.” To make the flying experience easier and more enjoyable, dogs have access to various aids such as calming treats, noise-canceling ear muffs, and calming jackets.

During takeoff and descent, dogs are given a beverage of their choice to help their ears adjust to cabin pressurization. Of course, there will be plenty of treats on the flight.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

More From Forbes

Google announces new features for travel.

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Google has announced several new features for Google Maps and Google Search aimed at helping people find less carbon-intensive ways of traveling and commuting.

One of the key additions is a new EV filter on google.com/travel, enabling users to locate hotels that offer onsite EV charging facilities. Additionally, numerous updates have been made on Maps to facilitate the discovery of charging stations.

When planning a trip, users will now have access to suggested charging stops, forecasted energy consumption, and more.

Google Map EV Charger Stations Updates

Furthermore, in addition to the EV updates, Google Maps will now assist users in finding lower-carbon travel alternatives.

Highlights from Googles Press Release: More sustainable ways to commute & travel:

• Driving alternatives in Google Maps: When people look up driving directions, we’ll soon show a public transit or a walking suggestion next to driving routes, if travel times are comparable and practical (coming to 15+ cities).
• Trains & buses in Google Search: You can now see train schedules & ticket prices directly in Search, for rail travel in 38 countries around the world (including the US), as well as long-distance buses in 15 countries. This is an expansion of an existing feature.
• Train suggestions on Google Flights: In the months ahead, when you’re on Google Flights and there’s a reasonable rail alternative, you’ll see train route suggestions in the flight search results. This builds on similar suggestions we already show in Google Search for flight queries.
• Travel Impact Model: You can already see estimated emissions in Google Flights, powered by our Travel Impact Model methodology. Now, estimates from the Travel Impact Model are also available through a developer API , a Google Sheets extension and a calculator on the TIM website .

Electric vehicles:

• Google Maps (all features coming soon):
• EV Charging Station Pins: We’ll highlight nearby EV charging stations for in-car Maps, with information about station availability and charging speeds.
• AI-powered summaries for EV charging stations: AI summaries from user reviews will better help users pinpoint charging stations.
• Multi-waypoint EV trip planning: When users create a multi-stop trip, in-car Maps will suggest required charging stops.
• Google Search - Hotels:
• You can use the new EV filter on google.com/travel to find hotels that offer on-site EV charging. This is already live.

Bitcoin Suddenly Braced For A 35 Trillion Halving Price Earthquake

New google play biometrics warning issued to all android users, apple watch series 9 hits all time low special offer price.

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J.T. Poston leads RBC Heritage while traveling with newborn baby

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – J.T. Poston’s travel contingent is bigger than normal this week – louder, too.

The Postons took their newborn baby girl, Scottie, with them on the road for the first time. She’s already proving to be the good luck charm. Poston leads the RBC Heritage by two shots after his opening-round 8-under 63.

“It's been great. It's definitely an adjustment,” Poston said. “I think my wife and I were figuring it out. My mom is here. She's helping us out, too. So we've got plenty of help. We're just kind of figuring it out.”

Katherine “Scottie” Poston was born on March 20, three days after the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship (Scottie is a family name on both sides). Poston took the next three weeks off before heading to the Masters alone. This week’s RBC Heritage, roughly two hours from the Postons’ St. Simons home, provided the ideal opportunity for a family affair.

J.T. Poston's interview after Round 1 of RBC Heritage

“We've got a two-bedroom condo," Poston said. "My mom is staying with us. We've got (Scottie) in her little setup. Last night my wife was great, she got up in the middle of the night a couple times when she was ready to eat or being fussy and let me sleep, so maybe we'll keep doing that.”

They’d be wise to keep the same routine. Poston made nine birdies Thursday, including six on the front nine as he went out in 30. Poston made three more on the back, more than offsetting his lone bogey of the day at No. 12. Poston led the field in SG: Around the Green and finished second in Putting.

“I felt like it was one of those days where if I could give myself a look, and I felt pretty confident in being able to make those putts, whether it was a close one or a 20-, 25-footer,” Poston said. “It sort of freed up the tee to green a little bit I guess you could say.”

The tee-to-green game has been an issue for Poston in recent weeks. After carding three top 10s and two other top 20s in his first six events, Poston has yet to finish inside the top 25 since the PGA TOUR left the West Coast. Poston chalked up the recent struggles to the ebbs and flows of a season. “It's hard to hit it really good every week,” he said.

Perhaps the key is Scottie. Poston finished T30 at the Masters, his best result in two months, and now leads at Harbour Town Golf Links.

“Maybe that has something to do with it,” Poston said. “It's good to have them here and sort of takes away the pressure of – I'm not worrying about golf when I'm at home. I'm trying to change diapers and take care of her.”

Insider Tips for Visiting Moscow, Russia, for the First Time

• Post category: Europe

When it comes to visiting Moscow for the first time, you may discover a lot of controversial information about this great city. Starting from applying for a Russian visa (which can be very confusing) to dealing with Russia’s chilly winter weather, the country is full surprises and you never know what might happen and what you’re gonna get the next time you visit. While visiting Moscow, the complex history is palpable, but with lots of malls, restaurants, and bars all around, Moscow is rightfully considered a perfect destination for first-timers. As a Moscow local, having lived there full-time for almost a year, I’ve created this local guide with Moscow insider tips, ways to get around, food to try and where to stay.

Which Is the Best Airport to Fly into Moscow?

The Aeroexpress train is the fastest (and my favorite so far) way to reach Moscow city center from the main airports around the city. Trains run every 30 minutes between around 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. and cost $8 USD (500 RUB) one way. The express trains have plenty of advantages but with frequent heavy traffic in Moscow, this is the most convenient way to get to the city center at a predictable time.

If you travel on a tight budget, there is a good chance that you will want to save money on transportation. All Moscow airports are connected with the nearest subway station by buses. These are usually not that comfy but really cheap so you can travel for less than $3 USD one way. But keep in mind it may take some extra time to get from the outskirts of Moscow. Bus number 851 links Sheremetyevo airport with the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station, while bus number 308 links Domodedovo airport with the subway station stop with the eponymous name.

How To Travel Around Moscow

As a first-time and frugal visitor, the best thing to buy and don’t get confused is a Troika card. While Moscow’s public transportation and ticketing system can be difficult-to-comprehend at first, this reusable card allows you to use metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses at discount rates and is a godsend when you don’t speak Russian. It works in a very straightforward way. Here are my other recommendations on how to save money while traveling in Europe .

You can get your Troika card valid for a month for less than $30 USD so don’t miss out on the opportunity to save money and avoid wasting time in line. If you’re travel in a group, Troika card is a great value for money since it is not personalized and can be used by everyone.

Taxis are readily available at airports, but I just hate riding a taxi around the city – chances are you will waste a lot of time sitting in traffic, and prices can fluctuate during rush hour and with distance. Über and Get Taxi are still the best options if you don’t speak Russian.

If you don’t feel like walking there are plenty of docking stations available throughout the city. You can take the bicycle from one location and return it to another. The only thing you need is to register on their website, receive your personal login information and that is it! You’re ready to explore the city by bike! Warning: bike culture is relatively new to Muscovites so I’d recommend avoiding streets with heavy traffic and opt for parks, narrow central streets, embankments and the Boulevard Ring.

Where to Stay in Moscow

When you’re planning your first visit to Moscow, you might find out there are literally thousands of places to stay. Accommodation in Moscow ranges from luxury hotels to budget hostels that often have both shared facilities and private rooms.

To reduce your living expenses I recommend using the Ostrovok hotel booking engine that might come in handy if you want to get better hotel rates than with Booking. As of mid-2018, the Russian ruble dropped 5% versus the dollar, thus making even luxury hotels in Moscow a more affordable option compared to similar hotels in the rest of Europe . If you’re looking for budget hotels in Moscow, I recommend 999 Gold Hotel and Orange Hotel near the Victory Park. AirBnB and Couchsurfing are popular while most of the hosts speak proper English.

Local Foods Not To Miss in Moscow (And Where to Find It)

You can easily find the world’s largest fast-food brands such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and Subway in Moscow. But I bet you won’t want to hit international restaurants featuring everything from sushi (which many locals have adored for years) to burgers. Instead, I recommend hitting fast food restaurants offering blini (Russian pancakes), grechka (buckwheat porridge), pelmeni (dumplings), borsch (beetroot soup), and syrniki (fried quark pancakes). Some of the affordable yet decent food chains include Moo-Moo, Grabli, and Yolki-Palki.

If you’re looking for a bit different food experience, take a closer look at traditional dishes from Georgia , Uzbekistan, and the other former Soviet republics. In this case, I can’t recommend highly enough such brands as Jonjoli featuring Georgian food, Odessa-Mama with a wide array of dishes from Ukraine and Uryuk chain where you can find some of the best plov in Moscow.

Places To Visit in Moscow Beyond The Obvious

Aside from well-known attractions, Moscow has loads of places that are like hidden gems waiting to be discovered. With so many tourists visiting Moscow each year, only a small percentage of them actually make their way outside the Third Ring Road. Here are my suggestions for places to visit in Moscow if you want something other than the Kremlin and the Red Square.

The Patriarch Ponds

A tranquil and charming neighborhood next to Mayakovaskaya Metro station has long been known as the area popular with expatriates. However, only a handful of travelers make their way here. I totally recommend visiting this charming park especially if you’re a Bulgakov fan. The area near the Patriarch Ponds was mentioned in the novel’s opening scene where the conversation between Berlioz, Ivan Bezdomny, and Woland has occurred.

If you’re looking for top things to do in Moscow in 7 days, I’ve got that covered !

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

You can find this awe-inspiring Cathedral not far from Moscow Zoo and Embassy of Poland. In fact, this neo-Gothic Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest and most beautiful Catholic cathedrals in Russia. Built in the early 20th century, the building has had a fairly complicated history. It was shut down and suffered terrible damage from aerial bombings during the Second World War but was restored in 1990. Now you can attend one of the masses offered in a range of languages, enjoy classical music concerts free of charge in this lesser-known architectural gem.

Kolomenskoe Park

This huge park is both an open-air museum and a UNESCO site and it is extremely popular with locals. Located in the southeast of Moscow, Kolomenskoe Park is home to a number of wooden structures from northern Russia and the hilltop Church of the Accession. With an impressive amount of original buildings, churches, bell towers and pavilions, Kolomenskoe dates back to the 14th century, so it may take up to four hours to explore this lesser-known place. If you want to enjoy some spectacular views, visit Kolomenskoe on a sunny weekend day to catch a glimpse of local life as well.

Visit VDNKh and the Museum of Cosmonautics

Visit the moscow state university.

Perhaps the tallest educational building in the world, the State University overlooks Moscow from the area known as Vorobyovy Gory (meaning ‘Sparrow Hills’). The building of the Moscow State University is one of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers, so you can expect this exceptional architectural masterpiece to reveal socialist decoration in all its glory.

While you can’t enter the building without a valid student ID, the main reason to come here is the amazing panoramic view of the city. There are two subway stations near the University but I recommend using the one that calls Universitet to avoid exhausting 30-minute walk up-hill through a park.

The Rizhskaya Railway Museum

The museum is next to Rizhskaya subway and railway stations and is another off the beaten path sight. The Railway Museum features over 70 locomotives from steam, diesel to electric, including some experimental high-speed trains. Unfortunately, all the description about exhibits are only in Russian, but you can arrange a tour in English in advance. It is well worth it. The railway museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Mondays and Tuesdays.

There you have it – Insider tips for visiting Moscow for first-timers!

Ivan Tannenberg is an independent traveler, history junkie, and a techno-geek. Having traveled the world out of a backpack for a year-and-a-half non-stop, he is now based in Vietnam aiming to explore new and mind-blowing destinations. Go and check his travel blog for more of his journeys around the world. Follow him on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

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MATC will soon choose a new president. First, candidates will travel to campus for public Q&A's

Final candidates in the running to take over as president of Milwaukee Area Technical College will travel to campus beginning April 22 to take questions from the public and meet with their potential new students and colleagues.

The campus visits mark a final step in the presidential search process. The college's plan is for the new leader to begin the job July 1.

MATC publicly announced the names of the four candidates April 5 . In coming to Milwaukee from across the U.S., they will meet with students and employees, including the union, then give a formal presentation in the college's downtown campus Cooley Auditorium. Their presentations will include public question-and-answer sessions.

MATC also surveyed campus for feedback about the ideal next leader.

Dates and times for the in-person public question and answer sessions are below. The college will also have a live-stream option for each candidate, with links found online at: tinyurl.com/2p9kw8ey .

• Tina Marie Jackson , assistant commissioner of workforce education at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; 3-4:15 p.m. Monday, April 22
• Anthony Cruz , president of the Kendall Campus at Miami Dade College ; 3-4:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 24
• Mark Curtis-Chávez , provost of the College of DuPage in Illinois : 3-4:15 p.m., Thursday, April 25
• Monica Brown , senior vice president for student affairs at Montgomery College in Maryland is working to reschedule with the college after a family emergency.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

More: What's on the horizon for the next MATC president? Questions about college access, equity

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at  [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter  @_CleoKrejci . 

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The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

• "Waspada, Banyak Travel Umrah dengan Skema MLM dan Ponzi"
• Cara First Travel Menipu Jemaah Umrah

Kehidupan Glamor Anniesa Hasibuan, Pemilik First Travel

• Kiprah First Travel: dari Sengsara, Berakhir di Penjara

Rancangan busana Anniesa Hasibuan dengan cepat menjadi salah satu merek fesyen muslim ternama. Koleksinya tampil di kota-kota mode dunia.

• Baca: Kiprah First Travel: dari Sengsara, Berakhir di Penjara

Semula busana yang dirancang Anniesa hanya untuk dirinya dan keluarga. Tapi suaminya, Andika Surachman, mendorongnya untuk memperluas hobi itu sebagai usaha fesyen.

Hobi itu lalu ia tekuni dengan mengikuti kursus fesyen di London, dengan belajar desain dasar selama enam-tujuh jam setiap hari selama sepekan. Berikutnya, pada Maret 2015, ia mendapat undangan dari salah satu penyelenggara di London untuk mengadakan pergelaran fesyen hijab.

Di kalangan desainer muslimah, Anniesa dikenal pribadi yang glamor—dari sisi penampilan maupun karya desainnya.

Rancangannya berkarakter ala Timur Tengah, menambahkan payet mutiara dan kristal Swarovski—jenama aksesoris fesyen ternama dari Austria—sehingga memberi kesan glamor dan elegan. Dilihat dari pelbagai koleksi yang ia ciptakan, selalu ada ciri khas, yakni aksen emas.

Ia selalu memilih warna emas sebagai identitas karya Anniesa Hasibuan. Berbeda dari merek fesyen muslim lain, Anniesa membuat desain adibusana bak kerajaan. Ia juga memproduksi pakaian santai untuk pasar yang lebih luas.

Serupa dengan bisnis biro umrah First Travel, bisnis fesyen dan butik dia cepat melejit.

Di tahun yang sama saat ia menekuni profesinya sebagai desainer itu, ia langsung menampilkan karya adibusana di panggung fesyen dunia, seperti Kaftan Festival Westfield di London dan Moslema In Style International Fashion Forward di Malaysia.

Setahun berikutnya pada 2016, karyanya tampil di Istanbul Modest Fashion Week dan Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Doha.

Usai September 2016 membawa koleksi bertajuk D'Jakarta di New York Fashion Week, Februari lalu di ajang yang sama ia tampil kembali dengan koleksi bertema Drama. Rancangan fesyen Anniesa mengglorifikasi kemegahan kerajaan dari Era Pertengahan lewat aksen berkilau dengan pernak-pernik perak, emas, dan gaun panjang bertabur mutiara serta bordir. Di pergelaran adibusana tersebut Anniesa mendapat tepuk tangan meriah dari pengunjung.

"Sangat dramatis," ujar Melanie Elturk, pemiki Haute Hijab , seperti dikutip dari akun Instagram Anniesa Hasibuan . "Ia membawa koleksi drama dengan baik. Ada nuansa monokrom, dengan warna-warna putih, hitam, emas. Tema warnanya sangat drama. Saya suka bahan-bahannya, dari beludru, satin, metalik, serta detail lipit. Saya suka semuanya. Indah!"

Sama seperti biro travel umrah yang dirintis bersama suaminya, bisnis fesyen dia pun dengan cepat diganjar penghargaan: Best Designer Awards pada Couture Fashion Week 2016 dan desainer favorit pada Jawa Pos Readers Choice 2017.

Anniesa merespons dengan bangga. "Assalamualaikum. Jawa Pos Readers Choice 2017, terima kasih atas votingnya menjadikan Anniesa Hasibuan sebagai favorit desainer, menjadi kebanggaan sendiri buat saya. Semoga terus berkarya untuk anak bangsa dan bisa mengharumkan nama Indonesia... Dan terima kasih atas supportnya. Sukses selalu Jawa Pos," tulisnya, 15 Juni lalu.

Berkat penampilan di pelbagai ajang adibusana itu, ia pun dilirik oleh para pebisnis. Ia mengklaim sejumlah butik di kota-kota dunia menghubunginya guna membeli koleksi busana terbaru.

Di Jakarta, Anniesa Hasibuan bekerja sama dengan Metro Departemen Store Plaza Senayan dan Pondok Indah Mall, Debenhams Departement Store Senayan City, The Shahdan FX Sudirman, Central Grand Indonesia East Mall.

Untuk pasar online , ia sudah bekerja sama dengan Zalora, Modanisa, Matahari, dan Valet.

Tempat ia merancang busana muslimah pun tak kalah mewah. Butik cantik nan megah tiga lantai itu didominasi warna emas dan perabotan mewah bak istana raja, terletak di Kemang, Jakarta Selatan. Baik klien maupun model fesyen dia adalah para selebritas, yang rutin menghiasi acara gosip di televisi, serta para selebgram dengan jutaan pengikut.

Pengagum merek Chanel—jenama fesyen dari Paris—ini mematok harga tinggi untuk koleksi adibusana. Untuk busana pesanan, harganya sekitar Rp35 juta. Sementara harga busana siap pakai antara Rp600 ribu hingga Rp2 juta. Ia juga menjual gaun pengantin dengan harga antara Rp15 juta sampai Rp20 juta.

Hobi Berlibur

Ibu dua anak ini dikenal senang menghabiskan waktu berlibur ke luar negeri. Di akun Instagramnya , Anniesa sering berbagi momen-momen bepergian bersama suami dan sahabat terdekatnya. Dari New York, London, Istanbul, Arab Saudi, Dubai, dan pelbagai kota dunia lain.

Ia tampaknya dianggap pribadi loyal terhadap orang-orang di sekelilingnya. Itu terlihat dari liburan di Bali usai mengisi acara Pekan Fesyen New York pada awal 2017.

Bersama tim Anniesa Hasibuan, ia dan suaminya menggelar makan malam bersama dan menyewa enam mobil Land Rover Defender. Ia mampir ke sebuah butik tas tradisional dan memilih beberapa untuk dijadikan koleksinya. Pasangan itu mengajak tim desainer mereka berpetualang.

Sayangnya, perjalanan bisnis fesyen Anniesa Hasibuan harus menghadapi perkara pelik dari bisnis biro umrah First Travel.

Rabu lalu, Anniesa dan Andika Surachman ditangkap oleh tim penyidik Direktorat Tindak Pidana Umum Bareskrim Mabes Polri di gedung Kementerian Agama. Mereka diduga melakukan penipuan, penggelapan, dan pencucian uang jemaah umrah. Total uang yang mereka kantongi sekitar Rp550 miliar dengan menelantarkan 35.000 orang yang gagal umrah ke Tanah Suci.

Hingga laporan ini ditulis, kepolisian masih mendata transaksi rekening termasuk aset yang dimiliki First Travel, dan kemungkinan besar pula menyasar aset-aset dari bisnis fesyen Anniesa Hasibuan.

Koreksi : Sebelumnya ditulis bahwa Anniesa "mendandani para model dunia, termasuk Kate Middleton, bak seorang puteri." Bagian mendandani Kate Middleton, seorang ratu Cambridge, adalah keliru. Yang akurat: Anniesa Hasibuan memimpikan merancang busana untuk Middleton. Di ajang New York Fashion Week 2017 tersebut Anniesa memilih dan mencari model dari latar belakang migran generasi pertama atau kedua demi menonjolkan tema busana yang ia pamerkan.

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