Hi Paul and Anne

Hope ytou don't mind if I add to your query as I would also like to use the buses this time.

Are there any actual bus stops or do you just flag the bus down like you would a Dolmus in Turkey?

Also is the destination shown on the front of the bus - I can't remember?

Thanks
Sian

if you look at irish colleen report she used buses and said it was 4ruppees for 4 of them (total) to calangute

There are recognised bus stops.
Take change as the largest fare is about 12rps, from Candolim to Mapsu.
So long as you avoid the busy times we find them a great way of moving around during the day.
Going to Panjim, get a bus to the ferry, then the ferry to Panjim is free. From candolim it was 7 or 8 rps last year depending which way the bus went.

Thanx for the answers we will definately get the bus most times I expect you just tell conducter where your going until you know the price I reckon it will be a lot more fun than getting a taxi

I love them,i use them all the time in the day,it not just to save money,but thats a bonus,i just like to sit there and people watch,and see the sights out the window,magicle,the cheapest entertainment in goa.

sorry the bus was 4 rupees for each one of us NOT for us all .....sammy 10 ..I was getting carried away with my report

We used the bus to Mapsa in Nov 05 are heading back to Candolim in Feb buses great fun will use them again

I've used the buses quite a bit, mainly between Sinquerim and Candolim. They are great fun, usually with music playing and a light show inside at the front. The conductor signals to the driver with a whistle.
From what I could find there seems to be two or three regular bus routes in the Candolim area. One runs from the Sinquerim bus stop to Mapusa via Candolim, Calangute (and maybe via Arpora).
The other main route is from Panjim (actually from the ferry crossing point at Betim) to Candolim then on to either Calangute Beach and/or Baga. These may be two separate route I'm not sure.
Both routes seem to run around every ten minutes or so but get less regular after sunset.
Getting on at Sinquerim or any other terminus is easy, there are usually two or three buses sitting there, as soon as one of them shows signs of leaving (like starting the engine or the light show) then people board. There are not too many people here so getting on is no problem. It's not so easy getting on mid-route as they tend to be full and it can to quite a scrum to get on or off.
They seem to stop at the designated bus stops but also I've seen people hail them between the stops.
The fare from Sinquerim to Candolim was 4 rupees last November, best to have coins ready as the conductor doesn't always have enough change for notes.
They all have a route board in the lower front window (and sometimes in the back window too) with the route in Konkani and English.

Promised myself that we would try the buses last year and never got round to it, couldn't get out of the walking habit so this year it is up the top end of things to do, along with about 20 other things

Alan

Colleen as much as 4 rupees

Never told you all this in my report but after using the bus a load of times the conductor had kinda got used to seeing us ....the driver even started to stop outside our hotel and there was no bus stop there.... but anyway we always seem to be heading home to the hotel at 630..or 700....and when we got near the hotel the conductor would shout..............panjim...panjim...panjim.....your friend ..your friend..your friend get off...get off ...get off...I think he was a scared we would miss our stop...maybe thats why he chucked us all off at the phoneix park ...
for those of you who use the bus you will all know ......calangute calangute calangute ....panjim...panjim ...panjim :rofl....colleen

Must try the buses Colleen seems a great way to travel. Better start saving up my 4 rupees just now .... or 8 rupees for the two of us

Is a fab experience- especially when they only slow down a bit for you to get on and off

We paid 4 rupees between Calagute and Candolim and 7 ruppes to Mapsua

I think Calangute to Panjim was 12 rupees.