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.
Delta Air Lines has introduced SkyPicks, a free skill-based sports prediction contest developed with DraftKings. The feature lets passengers compete for Delta gift cards by answering questions about real games, with no option to wager cash or miles. It marks a clear distinction from gambling and focuses instead on entertainment that draws on existing passenger
Many travelers finish a demanding workweek craving time outdoors yet assume national parks require extended travel or remote logistics. In reality, several of these protected landscapes sit close enough to major airports that a full weekend of trails, unique terrain, and natural immersion becomes practical without exhausting drives or complicated planning. The key lies in
Odense sits quietly in the Danish countryside, yet its influence reaches far beyond its borders. This is the city where Hans Christian Andersen was born and raised, and where the ordinary scenes of his childhood became the foundation for stories known around the world. A single day spent here shows how those tales remain alive
Pasco County, Florida – Along a stretch of the Gulf Coast known for its quiet barrier islands and layered maritime past, a small team has returned to the water in search of traces from the early 1800s. Their work centers on a remote island where historical accounts suggest valuable cargo may have been set aside
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues to handle growing numbers of travelers in 2026. Monthly passenger counts remain elevated compared with prior years, reflecting the city’s expanding role as a gateway for both leisure and business travel. This sustained activity has prompted airlines to introduce additional nonstop service in the months ahead. Steady Passenger Increases Shape Operations
Pittsburgh International Airport has long balanced the demands of modern travel with the character of its region. The new landside terminal, which opened in November 2025, brought improved security, baggage handling, and dining options. It also set the stage for something less common at major U.S. airports: dedicated outdoor space where passengers and visitors can
A powerful earthquake struck Japan this week, registering 7.1 on the Japanese scale and 6.8 according to the United States Geological Survey. Footage from inside a Costco captured the moment goods tumbled from shelves as the ground moved, a reminder of the sudden forces that shape life in one of the world’s most seismically active
Southwest France is facing an intense wildfire that has expanded across an area four times the size of Paris, centered in the Gironde region west of Bordeaux. Authorities have evacuated roughly 220,000 people from homes and vacation sites as crews work to contain the blaze. Forecast temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius and shifting winds are
The IT outage that prompted a temporary nationwide ground stop for American Airlines has been resolved, with the carrier returning to normal operations. The Air Traffic Control System Command Center confirmed that the issue had affected airports and facilities across the network. With the stop now lifted, attention turns to the practical steps for passengers
Laguna Beach, California, has long drawn those who seek a rare balance of dramatic coastline and quiet seclusion. A newly listed oceanfront compound now carries an asking price of $112 million, a figure that could establish fresh benchmarks for both the city and all of Orange County. The property’s scale and position underscore the enduring
Luang Prabang sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in northern Laos, where centuries-old temples rise above wooden houses and the daily rhythm of monastic life unfolds against a backdrop of forested hills. The town’s UNESCO-listed old quarter preserves a rare balance of lived heritage and quiet streets, drawing visitors who
Travel by sea has long offered couples a chance to step away from daily routines and share new horizons together. Among the many styles available, small-ship and expedition cruises stand out for their measured pace and focused itineraries. These voyages typically welcome only a few dozen to a few hundred guests, creating an environment where