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.
The U.S. Open stands as one of New York City’s signature late-summer traditions, drawing crowds to the grounds in Queens for world-class tennis alongside the energy of a major urban gathering. For many attendees, the combination of heat, lines, and constant movement can make the day feel more demanding than expected. Dedicated lounges operated by
Colombia marks the northern gateway for a journey that unfolds across seven countries and half a year of continuous overland movement. The traveler begins without a single word of Spanish yet finishes the route with practical fluency in ordering meals, asking directions, and holding everyday conversations. Landscapes evolve steadily from humid lowlands into arid expanses
Placerville, California – Nestled in El Dorado County, this community founded in 1848 carries forward a story of transformation that continues to unfold. What began as Dry Diggins and later became known as Hangtown now stands among towns across the country competing for recognition as one of America’s merriest Christmas destinations. The town’s current chapter
The combined contents of Lake Powell and Lake Mead have not been this low since before Lake Powell began filling after Glen Canyon Dam was completed in the 1960s. Federal officials have now finalized operating guidelines for 2027 and 2028 that reduce deliveries from the Colorado River to Arizona, California, and Nevada by a combined
Recent developments in U.S.-Canada trade discussions have introduced new variables for Americans considering travel north of the border. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney directed negotiators to step back from talks on Friday evening, hours before a fresh round of tariffs was scheduled to begin. The move followed extended efforts to address proposed duties set at
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
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
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
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
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
In parks and along quiet sidewalks from coast to coast, a simple act of leaving cash in plain sight has sparked a wave of spontaneous urban exploration. Social media accounts dedicated to these drops post short videos that send residents hurrying outdoors, turning routine commutes into moments of shared curiosity. The trend has taken hold
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