Helen Hatzis Profile Overview

Helen Hatzis

Helen Hatzis

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.
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Florida Builds Ahead of the Rising Tide

Florida’s coastal counties are home to nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population, and rising seas combined with stronger storms are reshaping daily life along the shoreline. Rather than retreat, architects, engineers, and residents are creating structures and landscapes that work with water instead of against it. Their work offers practical lessons for other waterfront

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Credit Card Presales Open Doors to Popular Events

New York City welcomed a traveler this Labor Day weekend whose schedule centered on two high-demand events secured well in advance. Credit card presale access made attendance possible at face value rather than through inflated resale markets. The approach turned separate bucket-list items into a cohesive trip built around live music and championship tennis. Early

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Villa Ferrer in Mahatao, Batanes: A Measured Base for the Philippines’ Most Distinct Island Province

Mahatao, Batanes – Travelers who reach this northernmost province of the Philippines often describe the landscape as unlike any other in the country. Steep limestone cliffs meet rolling hills, stone houses stand against constant wind, and the sea changes color with each shift in light. Villa Ferrer sits in the quiet municipality of Mahatao, offering

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Volunteers Give Loose Rocks New Purpose Protecting Mount Lemmon Trails

Near Tucson, Arizona, a group of residents has found a direct way to care for one of their most treasured escapes. On Mount Lemmon, volunteers spend weekends placing rocks along drainages to slow runoff and hold soil in place after the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Their work supports the trails and springs that draw hikers seeking

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El Niño Winter Could Lift Sierra Ski Season

California stands poised for a notably wetter winter season as meteorologists track the development of a potential Super El Niño event. The outlook, released this week, points to above-average precipitation across much of the state through the 2026-27 winter months. Travelers planning Sierra Nevada escapes will want to follow these shifts closely for both opportunities

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How Gondola Connects Loyalty Accounts to ChatGPT for More Tailored Travel Planning

Frequent travelers often manage a web of loyalty programs, upcoming bookings, and personal preferences that generic AI prompts rarely capture. Gondola’s recent Model Context Protocol integration with ChatGPT changes that dynamic by allowing the AI to draw directly from verified travel data. The result is planning assistance that reflects real account balances, past stays, and

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WestJet Refreshes Cabins on Acquired Planes

Travelers booking WestJet flights on certain routes may notice a recent change in cabin appearance that does not extend to seat movement. The airline has completed refurbishment work on every aircraft it acquired from Swoop and Sunwing. Public discussion of the project has focused on the updated interiors, yet one functional detail remains unchanged for

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California Claims Five of the Nation’s Top Winery Restaurants

California’s wine regions continue to shape how travelers experience vineyard dining across the country. A recent national ranking placed five of its restaurants among the ten best in the United States, underscoring the state’s growing reputation for thoughtful, place-driven meals. This concentration reflects years of careful cultivation, both in the vineyards and in the kitchens

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Court Ruling Preserves Delta and Aeromexico Partnership for U.S.-Mexico Travelers

A U.S. appeals court has allowed Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to maintain their long-standing joint venture, reversing an earlier effort by the Department of Transportation to end the arrangement. The decision, issued by the Eleventh Circuit, keeps coordinated operations intact across one of the busiest international corridors from the United States. Travelers who rely

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Maine Coastal Road Trip: Lobster Rolls and Island Escapes

Maine’s jagged shoreline has long drawn travelers seeking fresh seafood and quiet coastal rhythms. A compact road trip along its southern and midcoast stretches delivers both in abundance, with stops at working harbors, rocky headlands, and small towns where the day’s catch shapes the menu. Early summer brings milder crowds and the first real warmth

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This Week Only: How to Turn Affordable Miles Into Premium International Flights

With just days remaining before a key promotion window closes, travelers planning international journeys have a narrow but meaningful chance to stretch their resources. Avianca’s current offer on LifeMiles provides up to a 145 percent bonus on purchased miles through August 27, 2026. For those eyeing long-haul routes, the timing aligns with opportunities to access