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.
Image credits: Flickr Overwater bungalows have become one of travel’s most iconic fantasies. Most people hear those two words and immediately picture French Polynesia, a hefty price tag, and a flight itinerary that eats most of the budget before you’ve even unpacked. There are now over 250 resorts around the world with overwater rooms, and
Image credits: Pexels Most people spend months planning a cruise. They compare cabins, research ports, bookmark shore excursions. Then, a week before departure, they grab the first insurance policy they find, or worse, skip the whole thing entirely. That single decision can turn a dream vacation into a financial disaster that takes years to recover
Passengers routing through Panama now have a practical new option. Copa Airlines has lengthened its stopover program, giving travelers up to 15 days in the country at no added ticket cost. The change turns routine connections at Tocumen International Airport into opportunities for longer visits that can include beaches, rainforests, and towns. Practical Impact for
New York City has hosted countless dramatic moments at Madison Square Garden, yet few carry the personal weight of what unfolded during the NBA Finals. Beatrice Reilly-Jordon, a lifelong Knicks supporter from Staten Island, attended a recent game carrying a portion of her late husband’s ashes. She placed them on an empty seat beside her,
United Airlines has lifted a key barrier that previously limited how members could use shared miles. The change allows pooled balances to book award flights on partner carriers, a shift that broadens options for families and groups who combine their MileagePlus accounts. The update builds on the pooling feature introduced in 2024 and addresses one
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is undergoing a temporary shift to natural grass ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The change stands out because it reverses the venue’s usual artificial turf setup. NFL team owners have approved the move specifically for soccer events, even as they have resisted similar upgrades for their own league’s players.
As summer 2026 draws near and many households weigh the rising costs of travel, a fresh analysis from WalletHub offers clear guidance on where residents can enjoy meaningful leisure time without venturing far from home. The study examined 182 cities across key categories such as recreation options, food and entertainment access, and opportunities for rest
Orlando – A decade after a toddler’s death at a Disney World resort, wildlife officials have removed more than 400 alligators from the property. The effort reflects a sustained focus on reducing encounters between guests and the reptiles that inhabit Florida’s waterways. Additional barriers and other precautions now limit how close the animals can come
Image credits: Unsplash Most visitors to Paris spend a fortune chasing elevated views. They queue for the Eiffel Tower, pay for the Arc de Triomphe, and swipe their card at Montparnasse. What far fewer people know is that one of the most breathtaking rooftop perspectives in the entire city has been sitting there, completely free,
Image credits: Flickr Most people driving through Virginia have a mental shortlist. Williamsburg. Richmond. Charlottesville. They follow the well-worn path, tick the landmark boxes, and head home feeling satisfied. Virginia is steeped in American history and natural beauty, and while cities like Williamsburg and Charlottesville often draw crowds, the state is also home to lesser-known
Image credits: Pexels Mexico’s all-inclusive market is enormous, and most of the spotlight lands on the high-end properties with butler service and nightly rates that rival a car payment. What tends to get overlooked is the genuinely solid middle ground: resorts where meals, drinks, activities, and a real beach are included, and you don’t leave
Image credits: Unsplash Asheville has earned its reputation. The arts district, the craft breweries, the Blue Ridge views, the Biltmore Estate anchoring it all. But there’s a cost to all that charm, and lately it’s hard to ignore. The housing market in the Asheville metropolitan area has pushed median home prices into the range of