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.
Alaska Airlines is adjusting its network to better match current travel patterns, with fresh seasonal service that directly connects two smaller Pacific Northwest cities to Hawaii. The moves follow the carrier’s 2024 merger with Hawaiian Airlines and reflect a broader effort to strengthen links between the mainland and the islands while reallocating long-haul capacity elsewhere.
Appellation Healdsburg and Rosewood Miramar Beach have been named the leading hotels in the continental United States. The announcement places both properties ahead of others nationwide, drawing attention to their distinct settings in Sonoma wine country and along the Santa Barbara coast. One of the two stands out for offering a more accessible price point
Travelers who value seamless connections between their hotel stays and long-haul flights now have a practical new option. Marriott Bonvoy and Japan Airlines have introduced a preferred partnership that rewards members simply for connecting their accounts. The arrangement provides elite-qualifying points, status-matching opportunities, and a streamlined route toward oneworld recognition, all without requiring extra spending
Travelers often form impressions of a destination long before they arrive, and perceptions of everyday service play a quiet but steady role in those expectations. Recent findings from a customer service study place the United States lower on a worldwide list of friendly interactions, yet New York City still secured a spot among the top
Travelers who have long dreaded the middle seat now have a concrete reason to watch United Airlines’ fleet updates. The carrier is preparing its incoming Airbus A321XLR aircraft with a configuration that physically blocks the center seat in select economy rows, creating a guaranteed empty space between passengers. This change arrives as the airline readies
United Airlines has confirmed a distinctive addition to its upcoming Airbus A321XLR fleet. One row in the economy cabin will feature a guaranteed empty middle seat, creating extra elbow room on long-haul flights. The move extends the carrier’s Economy Plus offering and echoes a seating approach long familiar on European short-haul routes. A Single Row
Denver-based Frontier Airlines has confirmed plans to install Starlink satellite internet across its aircraft, with work scheduled to start in 2027. The move adds high-speed connectivity to an airline already preparing to introduce premium seating later this year. Travelers on the ultra-low-cost carrier will soon gain access to reliable in-flight internet for work, streaming, and
Brazil stretches across an enormous territory, and returning after ten years made that fact impossible to ignore. A decade earlier the visit had lasted only a single day at Iguazu Falls, a brief crossing from Argentina that left the rest of the country untouched. This time a full month was set aside, and the decision
The United States government has designated Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism along with nine state-linked entities under new sanctions announced this week. The action targets areas tied to fuel imports, commercial services, and tourism operations on the island. For American travelers, the development adds another layer to an already regulated travel landscape, prompting many to review
The World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marks a rare opportunity for fans to witness the tournament’s climax on American soil. FIFA has placed nearly 1,200 category two tickets on sale at $7,380 each, giving dedicated supporters a direct path to the championship match. This release arrives
Beginning August 1, 2026, American Express will no longer apply the Platinum Card’s monthly digital entertainment statement credit to Peacock bundled subscriptions, add-on services, or purchases made through third parties. The change narrows eligibility while leaving the core benefit intact for qualifying stand-alone plans purchased directly from Peacock. Cardmembers who rely on the up to
Recent analysis of national traffic data places Washington, D.C. among the ten safest large cities in the country for drivers. The finding rests on 2024 fatality figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, adjusted for population size. Even with the capital’s well-known volume of vehicles and visitors, the numbers show a comparatively low rate
