Helen Hatzis, is the Chief Exploration Office and Co-Founder of Trip Jaunt.
Helen is a recipient of the Governor-General Award, has been honoured as one of Canada's Nicest People! A true xenophile at heart, she finds joy in traveling and delights in sharing her experiences through Trip Jaunt (formerly Weekend Jaunt), an online travel community and hub she established in 2010. Her aspiration is to inspire others to explore the world as she does!
Helen is an esteemed advisory member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.
Kolar sits roughly 65 kilometers east of Bangalore, a compact town whose layered past continues to shape its present identity. For more than a century its gold fields operated continuously, generating regional wealth long after the mines closed. Centuries earlier the same location served as the seat of power for the West Ganga dynasty, then
High in Panama’s central mountains, Boquete occupies a valley shaped by volcanic soil and frequent mist. The town serves as a gateway to landscapes where coffee plantations share space with cloud forests and rushing streams. Travelers who arrive here often find themselves drawn into a slower rhythm defined by early morning walks and the scent
A new AP-NORC poll finds that a larger share of Americans now report extreme heat influencing their travel decisions than was the case two years earlier. The shift appears across multiple aspects of daily life, yet the data on travel behavior stands out for its direct relevance to how people schedule and shape their trips.
Washington Dulles International Airport stands at the threshold of one of the largest infrastructure projects in recent U.S. aviation history. On July 29, officials unveiled a $22.5 billion plan to modernize the facility over the coming decade, accelerating work already outlined in the airport’s master plan. For travelers, the changes promise more space, smoother connections,
American Express cardholders who hold Membership Rewards points have a defined window to move those points into Marriott Bonvoy accounts at an improved rate. The current promotion adds 30 percent to each transfer completed by the September 3, 2026 deadline. For travelers who already plan stays at Marriott properties, the adjustment can translate into additional
Lake Bled draws visitors with its striking arrangement of water, island, and castle, yet the most distinctive experience lies in the quiet customs that shape a visit to the island church. Travelers reach the small landmass by traditional pletna boats, then ascend a historic staircase where a local tradition invites grooms to carry their brides.
In 2024 the New York Liberty secured their first WNBA championship, ending a long drought for professional basketball titles in New York City. That victory has drawn more families to Barclays Center, where the team now plays its home games in Brooklyn. One recent outing paired a matchup against the Dallas Wings with time spent
Space exploration continues to reshape how people on Earth relate to the moon, turning a distant celestial body into something more immediate and observable. A recent impact from a SpaceX rocket booster created a fresh crater on the lunar surface, an event that unfolded far from human view yet carries quiet implications for those who
Santa Cruz, California, draws visitors year after year for its accessible shoreline and steady Pacific swells. A recent incident there underscored how quickly conditions can shift for even experienced beachgoers. Ten-year-old Nathaniel Rai found himself caught in a strong rip current while swimming, an experience that left much of the event hazy in his memory
Travelers drawn to Japan often concentrate on its most celebrated cities, yet a full circumnavigation by cruise ship opens access to places that remain largely outside standard itineraries. The Diamond Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, follows a clockwise route around the main islands, calling at smaller ports where daily life unfolds at a measured pace.
Mount Washington, New Hampshire – The summit of this storied peak often arrives under conditions that test every hiker’s preparation and composure. In one recent case, an 18-year-old from Massachusetts found himself unable to bear weight on an injured leg yet still covered more than a quarter mile back toward the summit to shorten the
August brings its own rhythms of travel, with many still savoring summer escapes while others begin to consider the quieter planning that comes with the year’s later months. This year, however, the conversation around holiday flights carries added weight. Airfares have climbed sharply, and the pattern suggests that waiting may carry real costs for those