Grand Tours Bus Option
Just an FYI note for me, and for you dear people like me, who keep traveling around Samar & Leyte, I finally got to ride on a VS Grand Tours bus. The mini version, that is!
I say mini version, for indeed it's a mini-bus. Bus enough, and bigger than the vans!
They have been around for some time now. I think, even before Yolanda struck. But I have just seen them on the road, no idea yet about their destinations or schedules.
Today...
After lunch, I was at the Grand Tours Terminal in Catbalogan, waiting for the ride to Tacloban, paired with another van to Ormoc. Been there done that. Then I saw this:
Not the van. The bigger thing behind it! I said to my royal self... hmm, puyde gad ada!
So I went to the "tiketera" and asked about that bus. She told me it was also going to Tacloban, etc., etc. I asked if: 1] I can still transfer to that bus; 2] if I would still catch my van reservation from Tacloban to Ormoc. She said yes to both. So, I transferred!
The tiketera returned half of the fare I paid. This turned out cheaper for me! Why so?
Aw, on a van, I always get seats 1 & 2 - meaning I buy two seats for me, myself and I - just so that I have enough space to stretch my legs on, even if a little bit diagonally.
On that bus, the tiketera said no need for another seat as the legroom was enough. I believed her. Tama naman (mataas kasi ang seat) more comfortable than a van's 2A.
I can tell you, I wasn't happiest yet, but better than purchasing 2 tickets on a van. Ah oo nga pala, the bus height is also better than the van's if you want to see the views.
Only the front seat behind the driver was available. I grabbed it without hesitation!
I had no time to "investigate" but I guess where that guy at right sits is Seat No.1 of this bus. At least I knew that mine was Seat No. 3 (behind driver) at front seat pa rin.
Nice. But there is a "catch"!
Their buses (maybe because still new to the fleet?) have no specific departure times. Unlike with the vans, where they can/will always tell you when is the next departing.
Examples: When is the next "bus" to Tacloban? No definite answer. The tiketera will just say "depende kon umabot na tikang ha Calbayog". Medyo "duh!" sila on this part.
Another example? What time does the bus leave Tacloban going to Catbalogan and Calbayog. Answer: "aga, bantayi nala" (you can't reserve a seat, dahil nga hindi sure)!
Samantala, with the vans, they will readily tell you if there's a 7AM, 7:15, 7:20 and so on. Plus, when you pick a time, they'll pull out their reservation sheet on a clipboard.
Maybe if they already have many of those buses, they will probably be able to tell us specific bus departure schedules like they do with the vans. Maybe sana unta soon!
Hey it's not as if 1 or 2 lang ang mini-bus nila ha?! On this trip, I saw two others.
Well, I cannot complain. This is development enough. For more convenient options!
Let's monitor this. I will.
Para sa mahahaba ang tiil, siki, singkadolan!
I say mini version, for indeed it's a mini-bus. Bus enough, and bigger than the vans!
They have been around for some time now. I think, even before Yolanda struck. But I have just seen them on the road, no idea yet about their destinations or schedules.
Today...
After lunch, I was at the Grand Tours Terminal in Catbalogan, waiting for the ride to Tacloban, paired with another van to Ormoc. Been there done that. Then I saw this:
So I went to the "tiketera" and asked about that bus. She told me it was also going to Tacloban, etc., etc. I asked if: 1] I can still transfer to that bus; 2] if I would still catch my van reservation from Tacloban to Ormoc. She said yes to both. So, I transferred!
Aw, on a van, I always get seats 1 & 2 - meaning I buy two seats for me, myself and I - just so that I have enough space to stretch my legs on, even if a little bit diagonally.
On that bus, the tiketera said no need for another seat as the legroom was enough. I believed her. Tama naman (mataas kasi ang seat) more comfortable than a van's 2A.
I can tell you, I wasn't happiest yet, but better than purchasing 2 tickets on a van. Ah oo nga pala, the bus height is also better than the van's if you want to see the views.
Only the front seat behind the driver was available. I grabbed it without hesitation!
Nice. But there is a "catch"!
Their buses (maybe because still new to the fleet?) have no specific departure times. Unlike with the vans, where they can/will always tell you when is the next departing.
Examples: When is the next "bus" to Tacloban? No definite answer. The tiketera will just say "depende kon umabot na tikang ha Calbayog". Medyo "duh!" sila on this part.
Another example? What time does the bus leave Tacloban going to Catbalogan and Calbayog. Answer: "aga, bantayi nala" (you can't reserve a seat, dahil nga hindi sure)!
Samantala, with the vans, they will readily tell you if there's a 7AM, 7:15, 7:20 and so on. Plus, when you pick a time, they'll pull out their reservation sheet on a clipboard.
Maybe if they already have many of those buses, they will probably be able to tell us specific bus departure schedules like they do with the vans. Maybe sana unta soon!
Hey it's not as if 1 or 2 lang ang mini-bus nila ha?! On this trip, I saw two others.
Let's monitor this. I will.
Para sa mahahaba ang tiil, siki, singkadolan!
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