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.
São Luís sits on the northern coast of Maranhão state in Brazil, where the historic center stands out for an unusual reason. Nearly every building facade in the old quarter is clad in hand-painted ceramic tiles known as azulejos, a legacy of Portuguese and French colonial influence that earned the district UNESCO World Heritage status.
Northern Virginia has long served as a gateway for travelers heading into or out of Washington, D.C. Its highways and suburban landscapes feel familiar to anyone passing through on the way to the capital or Dulles International Airport. Yet this same stretch of land now anchors the largest concentration of data centers on the planet,
World of Hyatt has introduced a meaningful adjustment to its award program that benefits its most dedicated members. Select elites and credit cardholders can now secure free night awards up to 13 months ahead of their travel dates. This development provides a practical edge when planning stays at sought-after properties where inventory tends to fill
London has long presented a practical challenge for travelers facing early departures. After living in central London for more than two years and navigating all six of its airports repeatedly, the realities of pre-dawn taxis, delayed trains, and last-minute scrambles become clear. Choosing an airport-adjacent hotel addresses the timeline pressure that affects frequent flyers, business
Paris prepares for its national holiday each July with a distinctive blend of military tradition, public gatherings, and evening spectacle. In 2026 the schedule carries an added layer of reflection, as July 14 marks the tenth anniversary of the Nice attack and will be observed as a day of remembrance. The principal fireworks display and
Daytona Beach, Fla. – Two swimmers drowned in rip currents off Daytona Beach during the recent holiday weekend, part of a wider pattern of water-related incidents along U.S. coasts. Volusia County authorities recorded more than 350 rescues in the area alone, highlighting how quickly conditions can shift for even experienced visitors. These events provide a
Southern France – Organizers of the Tour de France have restricted spectator access along the final portion of stage three after a wildfire broke out in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. The decision prioritizes the safety of residents, responders, and participants while the race moves from Spain into the mountains near Les Angles. Travelers following the event
Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho, sits in a mountain valley that draws visitors year-round for its trails, rivers, and quiet pace. Once each summer the single-runway facility faces a brief but intense test when private aircraft converge for the Allen & Company conference in nearby Sun Valley. The surge lasts only a few days,
There are places in Hawaiʻi that feel instantly familiar, even when you have never been there before. Kualoa Ranch is one of them. For movie lovers, especially anyone raised on the thunderous magic of Jurassic Park, the landscape comes with a jolt of recognition. The green cliffs, the wide valley, the dramatic ridgelines and those almost-impossible
Frequent travelers who rely on transferable credit card points often discover that the timing of a redemption can hinge on details established long before the search begins. Award space on popular routes or at desirable properties moves quickly, and any delay in moving points into a partner account can mean the difference between securing a
Hobart, Tasmania – Australia’s second-oldest city sits on an island that still feels far removed from the mainland. Its compact harbour, sandstone warehouses, and surrounding peaks create a setting where colonial layers meet raw wilderness in a way few capitals can match. Visitors often arrive expecting a quiet regional centre and leave surprised by the
Many travelers select power banks based on capacity and convenience alone, only to encounter questions or delays when the device reaches a security checkpoint. Airline regulations on these portable chargers have remained consistent for years, yet the details often surface only when a unit is flagged for review. A well-chosen model can eliminate that uncertainty