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.
Travelers facing issues with airlines, cruise lines, hotels, or car rental companies sometimes turn to artificial intelligence for help drafting complaints. This approach can produce polished documents that appear thorough, yet the results frequently fall short of expectations. Real-world cases show how such letters can complicate resolutions rather than simplify them, leaving travelers with unresolved
Travelers passing through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will eventually navigate a reconfigured Terminal 1 that places check-in closer to the main flow of arrivals and departures. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has released environmental documents outlining a replacement for the aging concourse known locally as the banjo. This project forms part of a longer
Summer in the southern United States often brings long stretches of heat and clear skies, yet many travelers and residents notice something more subtle at work above them. A vast plume of dust originating from the Sahara Desert has crossed the Atlantic and now influences conditions across the region. This airborne layer, comparable in scale
A recent flight cancellation in the United States drew attention to a straightforward but nonnegotiable requirement: every passenger on board must be secured before takeoff. The decision came after a toddler stood on a seat and declined to fasten a seatbelt, which the airline classified as an unsafe condition. While such disruptions remain rare, they
Nice offers a straightforward starting point for visitors curious about Monaco. A brief rail journey connects the two places, allowing travelers to experience the principality’s compact layout without elaborate arrangements. The day unfolds through public spaces and cultural sites that reveal Monaco’s character beyond its reputation for exclusivity. Reaching the Principality Trains depart regularly from
West Hollywood – On a recent Friday morning, pedestrians and drivers paused along Sunset Boulevard near Selma Avenue to look upward. A furnished living space had appeared inside a billboard roughly thirty feet above the street, complete with air conditioning and sweeping views of the famous stretch. Locals and visitors alike gathered to witness the
San Juan Capistrano preserves one of the most intact examples of early California settlement in the Los Rios Historic District. Founded in 1776 as part of the Spanish mission system, the neighborhood has retained its core layout and many original structures for nearly two and a half centuries. Roughly 50 miles south of downtown Los
Travelers drawn to places where the past lingers often find themselves at historic American hotels whose documented stories continue to shape their present character. These properties stand out not for manufactured thrills but for the verifiable events, architectural legacies, and consistent guest accounts that have accumulated over decades or centuries. Staying in them offers a
Maldives – A substantial private island is taking form within one of the nation’s deep-water lagoons, representing a notable example of large-scale marine engineering. The project covers 155 acres and carries an asking price of $450 million. Such developments illustrate how private investment can intersect with the technical challenges of building in sensitive ocean settings
Cinema has long held the power to plant seeds of wanderlust in unexpected ways. Viewers often find themselves drawn not only to sweeping visuals but also to the quiet invitations these stories extend toward real places and personal renewal. Several films stand out for the way they portray authentic destinations while underscoring the value of
Off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, a cluster of small islands known as the Gilis offers travelers a rare chance to slow down. These compact landmasses, connected by short boat rides from the mainland, operate without cars or motorbikes. The result is an environment shaped by the rhythm of waves, the clip-clop of horse-drawn carts,
Greenpoint, Brooklyn – A compact 250-square-foot studio here offers visitors a direct path back to the era of mall photo sessions, where families and friends posed for glossy, stylized portraits. The space functions as a working time capsule, complete with the lighting, backdrops, and props that defined those late-century shoots. Travelers and locals alike arrive
