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.
Cape Cod has long been the default summer destination for New Englanders. The clam shacks, the shingled cottages, the salt air drifting off Cape Cod Bay – it’s a deeply familiar picture. Yet something is shifting. A growing number of travelers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and beyond are quietly rerouting to a small island off the
Most people driving down to the Gulf Coast already know their destination before they leave the driveway. They type “Destin” into the GPS, merge onto I-10, and follow the familiar trail of bumper-to-bumper traffic toward Florida. What they don’t know is that somewhere west of that traffic jam, a narrow strip of Alabama coastline sits
Most people picture mountain towns covered in snow. Ski lifts, après-ski cocktails, frozen waterfalls. That’s the postcard version. But come June, something remarkable happens in these places. The slopes turn into wildflower meadows, the trails open up, the light lasts longer, and the whole character of the landscape shifts into something softer and more alive.
Every summer, the same scene plays out on beaches across the United States and around the world. Tourists arrive excited, underestimate the water, and within hours lifeguards are sprinting toward someone in trouble. The incidents are rarely freak accidents. They follow patterns that safety officials have been trying to break for years. The most urgent
Most people picture dusty highways through California rolling hills when they think about a proper wine country getaway. The cost, the crowds, the parking lots that somehow charge more than the tasting itself. What tends to get overlooked is that some of the most genuinely scenic and affordable wine country in the country sits squarely
Many travelers view Chase Ultimate Rewards points primarily as tools for flights and hotel stays. The Chase Travel portal, however, extends redemptions to tours, attraction tickets, rental cars and cruises. These options typically deliver around 1 cent per point, well below the 2.05 cents per point valuation reported in June 2026. The Trade-Off in Point
**Nancy Meyers Coastal Hotels for Seaside Getaways** The neutral palette, airy rooms and ocean views in Diane Keaton’s house from “Something’s Gotta Give” set a lasting standard for relaxed coastal living. Director Nancy Meyers captured that same blend of comfort and understated luxury across several films, and travelers now seek properties that deliver the look
Atlantic City’s boardwalk draws crowds each season, yet Ocean Casino Resort has carved out a distinct identity as a full-service destination that prioritizes relaxation and dining over gaming. The property’s adults-only pool deck, ocean-view accommodations, and chef-driven restaurants create an atmosphere more reminiscent of a coastal retreat than a traditional casino hotel. Visitors who arrive
Iran’s national football team has encountered a series of logistical hurdles during the 2026 World Cup that its federation now plans to challenge formally with FIFA. The issues center on travel limits and entry rules tied to the United States portion of the tournament. These constraints have disrupted preparation schedules and prompted sharp criticism from
Travelers often overlook a built-in Google feature that displays low fares across an interactive world map. The tool surfaces round-trip options from a chosen home airport, sometimes at prices far below typical published rates. It operates as a free extension of the standard Google Flights site and updates continuously with current airline data. Core Capabilities
Martha’s Vineyard draws visitors each summer with its quiet beaches, historic towns, and easy rhythm that feels removed from the mainland. The island rewards those who plan thoughtfully, whether arriving for a long weekend or a full week. Practical choices around transportation, clothing, meals, lodging, and daily outings shape the experience more than any single
There’s a small mountain community tucked into the Wasatch Range of Utah that keeps showing up on travel lists and earning quiet comparisons to the Swiss Alps. It doesn’t have the fame of Aspen or the Instagram saturation of Park City. Yet year after year, photographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and travel writers keep circling back to