A large thanks goes to ISL for getting us use of their coach, and their driver Joseph today! 

After checking in, it was off to explore the quirks and challenges that a city tour day trip will bring us, and to ask questions of the company and their equipment.

Some Notes

• There are lots of new buildings and designs to be aware of and update your commentary with
• Highly suggest those wishing to provide the best view of Chinatown for your guests in a coach travel NORTH on Carrall Street to provide the best view for the passengers
• Consider leaving Canada Place and heading UNDER the convention centre and taking Waterfront Road to enter the east end of downtown. It provides a wonderful view while taking the railway overpass and allows you to bypass some of the construction in downtown before heading into Chinatown / Gastown
• Gastown is very rough and tall vehicles swing a lot, caution passengers not to have their heads too close to the windows then
• • There is no statue of Gassy Jack
  • There is bus parking and drop off zones that are being reactivated
• Stanley Park is very slow. With no changes to Beach Avenue from the Parks Board, and no parking available or buses at Prospect Point, reasons to move along the west side of the park are diminished. It is VERY slow to maneuver a coach in areas, with no choice to run curbs in areas like the Big Tree / Hill. There is no chance to enter and loop around the Hollow Tree in the current set up. Other than the lookout on the bridge from Lord Stanley's Proclamation Spot, choose the rest of the park at your own discretion. As departing via Pipeline Road (which allows you to loop the Pavilion and The Rose Garden) brings you to the same exit onto Georgia Street as continuing all along the west side of the park (albeit saving a good 20 minutes while doing so) you may want to seriously consider adding that as your exit and only doing the Brockton Point Section
• The only way to access the west end is heading South on Denman from Georgia, or continuing to Thurlow/Burrard and going to either Robson or Davie and heading back towards the park from there. You can enter Beach Avenue from the Amazing Laughter Statues either way. If you do Denman, be warned it is slow in a full sized coach.
• Granville Island is as 2019, with no parking on the island, and a fee to drop off. Coach and Bus parking is available (or shortly will be) just off the island and is an option to start/stop a GI tour segment
• LOTS of parking and open space at Queen Elizabeth Park. Consider using this for longer stops and taking in the sunken gardens. Parking for QE Park and Stanley Park for buses is valid for all day, and for both parks. Be sure to keep the receipt, but leave it in the window of the bus/coach when you are driving around (roughly $60 for a full sized coach now)
• YVR has lots of space, and no issues with pick ups and drop offs. Anyone needing COVID testing can get it at the departures level, beside the US check in counters and under the Farimont

We ended the trip at Bridgeport Skytrain Station. ISL is based out of Richmond, and operates MCI Motor-coaches up to 54 pax. They are a smaller operation then others, but they have top notch equipment and drivers that many tour operators use.

Big thanks to ISL for giving our members the opportunity to explore the city and get familiar with their operations and equipment