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 often find that Spain and Portugal reward those who visit them together, offering a compact yet richly varied experience across the Iberian Peninsula. The two nations share a peninsula and centuries of intertwined history, yet each maintains its own language, traditions, and pace of life. This combination allows visitors to move between lively urban
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has held a prominent place among premium travel rewards options since its introduction in 2021. It combines lounge access, an annual travel statement credit, and transferable miles with a $395 annual fee that requires careful consideration of personal travel patterns. For many frequent flyers, the card’s benefits
Qantas has moved up the retirement of its Airbus A380 fleet by four years, with the first aircraft expected to leave service in 2028 rather than the previously planned 2032. The decision aligns with a broader fleet renewal that brings more efficient twin-engine aircraft into the Australian carrier’s long-haul operations. Travelers who value the superjumbo’s
Southwest Airlines has introduced a short-term promotion that allows Rapid Rewards points to deliver substantially more value than their typical redemption rate on select routes. The sale, which runs through the end of August, applies to flights scheduled well into 2027 and focuses on periods outside peak holiday travel. Travelers who already hold points or
After more than two decades of travel, the question of whether a place could become home often surfaces long after the vacation glow fades. Daily routines such as grocery shopping, navigating public transport, and adjusting to local rhythms reveal far more than scenic views ever could. Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, and Panama each offer distinct
Nashville has long served as the center of Dolly Parton’s professional life, yet colorful tributes to the singer now appear in towns far beyond Tennessee. These public artworks highlight her music, her commitment to literacy, and her personal story in ways that invite travelers to pause and reflect. A road trip connecting several of the
Nashville International Airport stands as a primary gateway for visitors arriving in Music City and the broader state of Tennessee. A recent proposal from Governor Bill Lee would attach the name of one of the region’s most celebrated figures to that gateway. The idea emerged days after Dolly Parton’s death and builds on widespread public
Travelers who rely on loyalty points and miles for flights have long navigated complex award charts and availability searches on their own. Google’s AI Mode now handles part of that work directly in a chat interface, displaying award prices from select programs and tracking cash fares in the same conversation. The update arrives as a
Travelers flying between Washington Dulles and California this autumn will have the chance to experience United Airlines’ newest aircraft on shorter domestic segments before it shifts to its intended long-haul role. The Airbus A321XLR, built for extended international journeys, is scheduled to enter domestic service on select routes starting in September, offering passengers an early
Frontier Airlines has introduced a series of adjustments to its Frontier Miles loyalty program that will reshape how travelers qualify for elite benefits starting next year. The changes lower the threshold for the highest tier while introducing new perks across all levels and altering how miles accrue on different fare types. These updates, effective at
Interest in Portugal as a destination for a slower pace of life continues to grow among those seeking a more measured daily rhythm. Accurate financial planning helps turn that interest into a sustainable choice. The figures that follow draw from current market data to outline typical expenses across housing, daily needs, and initial setup. ([1])
Big Sur has long drawn visitors with its rugged coastline and intimate, family-run establishments that anchor the community. Several of those historic businesses have closed once more after the Timber Fire and the Plaskett Fire expanded, prompting fresh evacuation orders across parts of Monterey County. The timing adds particular weight: some locations had reopened only