Why go by Bus?

It looks like it’s possible to reach Goa airport by taxi from any part of the state for just US$30-40. But, if you are renting a very nice apartment for less than $10 per day for two persons, you can still think that it’s too expensive and it’s better to save this money for something else.

Another thing against taxis - taxi drivers behave the same as bus drivers: go too fast, too unsafe and not comfortable for the passenger. Uncomfortable means not slow enough during passing speed breakers and any other bad driving behaviour.

Yesterday I went from top North of Goa to airport and spent less than US$5 for two.

The way in details:

I’ll give the prices in Indian rupees (INR). Today’s exchange rate is about 65 INR for US$1

• Arambol to Mapusa - 1h - 20 INR / per person;
• interchange for 10min;
• Mapusa - Panaji (bus without stops) - 20m - 15 INR / per person;
• buy a ticket in the terminal and interchange - 15min;
• Panaji - Vasco da Gama - 45m - 37 INR / per person
  (this including traffic jams caused by improving roads);
• As I know it’s possible to take a rickshaw from terminus to the airport for cheap.
  I was worried because of time and exited the bus not on last stop but in the nearest place to the airport. Then I caught a taxi for 150 INR. The way took just 5 minutes.
  The other way is to wait for some bus or go by walk.

Anyway, the whole way cost (20+15+37)x2+150 = 294 INR (~ US$4.5) and took about 2h 45m

The important thing is to know a timetable for your first bus. Usually, it’s a local bus with many stops which goes not too often (for Arambol about twice per hour). I recommend go to the nearest bus stop and ask about a timetable and how to reach the airport from your location. Otherwise, it’s possible to come too late or too early.

What is still better in a taxi?

There are still many things whose are better in a taxi. Just think if you want to pay 5-10 times more only because of them.

• air conditioning. Yes, it’s not perfectly comfortable on a bus during the daytime. But it’s still “normal” (It feels like in any not air-conditioned cafe during the daytime);
• guaranteed place to sit and no contact with anybody except taxi driver;
• more predictable time and no interchanges.

Flexibility

I started my way to the airport too late. It was just 4 hours before a flight.
Of course, I’m not crazy and I checked the emergency ways to be on time.
Each bus makes the possible taxi fare smaller.
So from Mapusa, it can cost less than $US20.
From Panaji - US$10
From Vasco (which I actually took) - US$2.5
So anytime you’ll feel unsafe just go by taxi and you’ll still pay less.

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