Cebu MyBus To Airport
It's my bus, our bus, your bus, their bus, everybody's bus!
My oh my bus! I really thought I already did a story about this public transport facility from the Mactan Cebu Airport to the city and back. It turns out, I've just been mentioning this conveyance in my stories, but never a full story about it. Sorry po, tao lang! Great and thanks, one of you my dear readers asked.
So here I go with a story on my way to the airport!
I walked from Sugbutel to the Radisson Blu / SM City area as this parking area is just beside them.This big wide parking lot is the "main" (start/end) station of the MyBus Service. That big fancy-looking building at the back is Bayfront Hotel. So if you're staying at any hotel near this area, MyBus is for you!
In fact, since SM City is easily accessible by direct or connecting jeep routes, this place is very easy to reach. I know people (passengers or airline/airport employees) who take cabs only to/from this place, from/to their residences, then they ride the MyBus to/from the airport. It's definitely cheaper that way!
Ah they do post their schedules but Filipino style - only as far as saying they start 6AM until 9PM from SM City and start 7AM until 10PM from the airport with 20 minute departure intervals, supposedly. It's not like in Japan or Singapore where specific times are published. Well, pwede na. "Can be" na heheh!
It is bearable though. I never get late by just adding extra time (about 30minutes to 1hour) to my travel itinerary, than I would have when riding taxis. It doesn't differ much. Why? Because in Cebu (or most in this country), it's not really because a car is faster than a bus. It's because the streets are jammed. So, even if you are in a sports car, you'll just be as slow as other vehicles ahead of you! Mahal sa taxi yan!
With the MyBus, your 50-peso fare from airport to SM City or vice-versa does not increase when roads are jammed. So it's cheaper. Not to mention that it's safer (more secure) as you're traveling with other folks (usually airport/airline staff) in a big bus with wide clear windows - so, less chances of a holdup.
See the picture above again, you buy tickets in that booth inside the canopy. They sell plastic cards at P200 that you can consume and load (top up) later. But it is also fine to just pay a single journey ticket hehehe. In fact, if you have that card, you don't/can't use it (yet) inside the bus, but only at the station's booth, as if paying the ticket girl with a credit card! I have that card, but I seldom use it. Cash is faster!
A ticket girl told me though, that in the future, payments will have to be made on board, using a MyBus Card only - and that the 'bus station booths' will only be for loading (topping up) of cards. Really now?! Kelan pa kaya ang "in the future" na yan? Sana soon. Maka-subok man lang tayo ng konting high-tech!
Hey by the way, from the above station at SM City, MyBus now also have trips to SM Seaside, even as far as Talisay and Minglanilla! Imagine, we may now ride reliable, comfortable, affordable, clean buses (again) to/from the airport from/to most of Metro Cebu. I said "again" since there was that blue bus in the 1990s, where the public could ride from the airport, all the way to "Fuente OsmeƱa" area and back.
This is the MyBus dispatch area near SM City where most people depart from or arrive at.I took that photo when I was already seated, and the bus was already moving on its way to the airport.
This is a stop after SM City, the signage says Logarta St., across the North Bus Terminal. In the past, there was no such stop in this area. Good for those who may be coming from the northern towns and islands like Malapascua, Bantayan, etc. Just cross the road from the north bus terminal, so you can wait for a Mybus going to the airport. Ignore those men who keep brokering their taxi service!
Heads up: if you're going the other way (to SM City or Radisson Blu from North Bus Terminal) which is only about a kilometer away to your right, MyBus may not be the most practical ride, as P50 is already too expensive for the distance. But if you don't know or don't feel comfortable riding jeeps passing by the area, by all means hop on that MyBus! It may look ridiculous, but safer and cheaper than any taxi!
There is also a MyBus bus stop in Park Mall, but not here. Wait for the bus to turn right facing CICC.But if you're coming from the airport, the bus stop in this area is to the left (not seen in photo), in front of City Time Square. I've seen people going to the airport who hopped into MyBus at this area though.
Here, this is the MyBus Stop at Park Mall, facing the closed Cebu International Convention Center.I realized there had been more stops lately than before, probably to cater to more folks wanting to ride this affordably convenient service. Oh, I always check the MCIA website for updates, before each ride.
Don't forget I have more photos on the airport-to-city trip here.
Let's go back to Manila, next. Maiba naman!
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