Here at YFC, we love travel as much as you do! Join us to learn about our favourite destinations—and maybe a few travel tips along the way.

British Overseas:

Operations Assistant Faye Downing has been with the Fredericton International Airport (YFC) for nearly 27 years. An avid cruise enthusiast, she has traveled to many beautiful and unique vacation spots. In fact, Faye has been on 16 cruises, visiting ports throughout the Caribbean!

“One of my favorite places to port is Isla Roatan, Honduras. We have been there four times, the most recent being this year,” says Faye. “It’s a great place for catamaran rides, snorkelling (being a coral island), beaches, shopping local markets and my latest adventure of visiting a monkey/sloth sanctuary.”

Faye and her family had the opportunity to hold exotic animals such as sloths, Guinea pigs, macaws and even monkeys!

Faye’s advice for travellers is to allow for an extra day on the way to your destination, to leave space for flight changes—and to always travel with a carry-on! It’s best to carry the essentials like your phone, wallet, passport, and any necessary medications with you on the plane.

Wondering what you can pack? Visit CATSA’s what can I bring page to learn more.

Mexico:

GardaWorld Screening Officer Jaymes Craft sees hundreds of suitcases each day, and is no stranger to packing her own! Jaymes’ favourite vacation destination is San José del Cabo in Mexico, which she enjoyed so much she visited it twice.

On Jaymes’ trip, she went on an excursion to tour the native plants, rode a camel, went on a dune buggy, and relaxed in the sun. If you’re a fan of artistry, she highly recommends visiting the historic art district—a free cultural event.

“On Thursdays, artists from all over come to the art district and fill the streets with their art, which was super cool.” says Jaymes. “It was more than a market because there are so many different art galleries that will open their doors to everyone, so you can pop in and out of those stores.”

She also got the opportunity to go kayaking in Cabo San Lucas and had whales just an arms length away from her!

A seasoned traveller, her best tip for passengers is to check in to your flight online the day before your travels. That way, you can stay up to date with the latest information directly from your airline.

Thailand & Iceland:

Jacques Fournier, YFC’s Director of Commercial Development is in the business of travel; and he’s visited a whopping 54 countries! Paris is his top pick for a city, and for his top country, it’s a tie between Thailand and Iceland.

“One of my best memories in Iceland is when I golfed at the bottom of a volcano and teed off at midnight,” says Jacques. “In Iceland there’s so many places you can visit, from the lagoon to all the different active volcanos (but be sure not to get too close!). In the summer there’s 20-22 hours of daytime—it’s so bizarre!”

As for Thailand, Jacques was intrigued by his passion for diving, which is a hobby he started over 25 years ago when he worked for Air Canada.

“Thailand has the nicest beaches and the best water for diving,” says Jacques. “Also, Thailand has some of the most beautiful islands on the planet. Not to mention, the culture is fascinating.”

Fun fact, Jacques is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of club sandwiches. He picked up his qualifications from years of travelling and sampling.

“I can tell you what a club sandwich tastes like in over 40 countries—and which one is the best,” says Jacques. “The sandwich I had in Spain was delicious, as was the one from Hong Kong, but Canada takes the cake [or should we say sandwich?].”

Echoing travel agents all over the world, Jacques recommends to double check your key items when travelling: ID, wallet, phone, and passport. It’s important to keep those items close and in a safe spot.