king quality

We travelled from Managua to Guatemala City with King Quality (now Platinum) and had a pretty good journey. The first coach to San Salvador was really comfortable, really clean and had working wifi and charge points, blankets and pillows, it was pretty much as advertised. The second coach from San Salvador to Guatemala was an older bus, not quite as nice but had stacks of space and again pillows and blankets. No wifi on this one though but after travelling through South and Central America, all on buses, we've never had wifi so the first coach was an exception. Food on both coaches was not bad by coach standards and was well timed. Best of all though was the service. Attendants on both coaches were attentive, took full control of the border crossings and disturbed people as little as possible. We have a toddler and the first set of border crossings were very early morning and he was sleeping. They allowed me to stay on board so as not to disturb him and only asked my husband to check in with immigration. They explained to immigration who were very understanding. This was a first for all of our journeys over the past 4 months and we were really grateful for this. The bus was early to San Salvador and arrived in Guatemala slightly earlier than estimated too. My only issue is that it is advertised as a 30 hour bus journey (the office says arrival at 08:30am instead of PM and this confused our hotel arrangements. Online references, inc Lonely Planet also say 30 hours but to all accounts, the locals on the bus expected the evening arrival)We'd definitely use these again.

Due to ridiculously overpriced airfare in Central America, I chose Platinum Centroamerica (former King Quality) to travel from Managua to San Salvador. The ride was 105$ and another 25$ for crossing the borders (both ways together). The ride itself is really comfortable! The chairs are big and recline very far (which can be annoying, if the person in front of you reclines all the way!) but there is quite some leg space. They do serve food, which they will collect from restaurants along the way. The food was good. Drinks are also included. The "stewardess" will take care of all paperwork at the border crossing. The whole ride took 13h, which includes 3h at the both borders. The wifi did not really work on the ride to San Salvador, and did not work at all on our way back. Even though its stated on their website, their were no power outlets on the bus. You can charge notebooks and phones at the border Nicaragua-Honduras!The only FLAW was that the buses leave Managua at 3am in the morning. This is a very inconvenient hour, as the area is quite dangerous so you have to take a cab. It also means that you have to stay one night in Managua. I live in Granada and had to take a cab from there. Otherwise I would have needed to stay in a hotel nearby. The bus from San Salvador leaves at 13.00 and was at Managua at 2.00am. So I stayed at a very bad Hostal nearby (Hostal Maná) which is totally overpriced and not very nice. A guy from King Quality drove me their on his motorbike, which was really nice, as the area is dangerous at night!So overall I totally recommend King Quality! Everyone is really nice, and the ride is not that bad. Just make sure to know where to stay the night before.

I think that KQ has recently rebranded as Platinum (http://platinumcentroamerica.com). I took the Platinum service from Managua to Guatemala City, leaving at 3am and arriving 90 minutes earlier than scheduled at 7.30pm. The first leg, to San Salvador, was on what looked like a brand new vehicle; smart, spacious, comfortable and clean, with films, working WiFi and two toilets. There was an hour's wait in San Salvador before we left on an older bus, shabby on the outside but comfortable enough inside. The whole journey was smooth and the staff pleasant and helpful. The terminals are nothing special but they are safe. Food is adequate.I bought my ticket, for $88, at the agency at the very helpful Hostal Hamacas in Granada.

I like KIng Quality not only for the chairs and food services, but also because the have a person checking on every body status. I have seen how they help persons with problems on traveling, they have a emergeny kit for helping people.

Bus trip on " King Quality"Guatemala City to Managua via San Salvador. Aug 31,2013$79.00 cc's accepted at their office in GCFirst leg: superior comfort, equipment and service (5 star)Second leg: poor on all counts (2 stars) Because the second leg is three times as long as the first, 2 stars carry the day.Left 7:00 AMVery nice, modern bus with stewardess. Bus was 1/3 full.Service as on an airplane: Water, coffee, sodas served on request and are included in the price of the ticket, b-fast sandwich (frijoles and egg) served as we left GC. Pillows and blankets are distributed in the first hour of the journey which is good - as many others have said, the A/C works well! Coffee and cookies were served about 2 hours into the tripMovies started immediately. Speed is under 100kph, gentle...CIVILIZED in comparison to Chicken Busses or Alamo/ADN (etc) pullman busses b/t GC and Xela. This is a pleasant, restful, ride.9:30. We passed uneventfully through the El Salvadorian border, which took about 30 minutes and was handled by the Stewardess, who collected passports. Money changers abound and offer a dreadful rates...half what the bank would give.11:30. Arrive at bus terminal. Disembark. Submit passport and tickets at the check-in counter. They are returned a while later w/immigration forms for Honduras and Nica. Complete them. While waiting, I walked down the street and had a tasty burrito at a restaurant called "Soccer." The currency in El Salvador is US dollars; the burrito was $2.45. I'd suggest that it is fine to leave the terminal area to grab a bite to eat, letting someone...like the guard at the entrance know what you're up to. I had fun talking with the guards and bus washers.1:20. PM. Left terminal in a dated double decker that smells like mold. Bus 2/3 full. 5:20. Honduras customs. Fees totaling $17 for entry of non-C.A. citizens into Honduras and Nicaragua. We pay the steward and give him the immigration forms for both countries. El Salvadorian immigration comes on to check passports against passenger manifest. On the road again at 5:45. Now the trip is starting to feel long. The service is poor/ the steward is unattentive, so I help myself to water or soda. No movies since the first one three hours ago.8:50. Nica border. Needed to clear the bus, walk a bit, have all luggage inspected. Moving again an hour later. Steward showed up to feed us a sandwich for dinner at 10:15...we were all very hungry by then.Expected arrival time now 1:00.11:15. Breakdown. Driver coasts to an abrupt stop on side of the road, Engine not working.11:45. Going again. Fingers crossed.2:05AM arrived at the King Quality terminal which is across from the Inter Plaza centro commercial.

We checked the lonely planet and then King quality's website for bus times from Tegucigalpa to Managua and planned to get the 05:30 bus.We turned up very early in the morning to book a ticket and were told abruptly no we couldn't buy a ticket, we asked why and were told that the route was closed and only Ticabus went now,despite a big poster with the routes on advertised, we were simply told it was incorrect,so was the website.no apology given. We took the Ticabus at 09:30 and it was fine, but we got the last seats so try and book in advance if you can as its the only bus.

I have taken King Quality several times on visa runs from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. Due to the tickets being higher than other buslines, there is very few people on the bus, a nice bonus...this ensures you will have your seat row to yourself. The a/c is very strong so bring a jacket. They serve meals, snacks, and beverages, and if you want something you just have to ask. The buses have always been clean and new, and the bathrooms spotless. They stay pretty well on time, by Nica standards, leaving within an hour of their scheduled departure. They make it a breeze to go through customs at the border, and so far have always delivered luggage safely. Would highly suggest this for single women travelers, who dont want anyone to hassle them on their bus ride.

...and sure it was pretty late too.we took the bus from managua to tegucigalpa and weren't to thrilled about the aspect of arriving there late anyway. what we didn't know was that the bus we were so happy to secure the last 2 tickets on did not start in managua but came all the way from costa rica. so a 3 hour delay was not all to surprising. what we also weren't told was that we were to change buses midway.we made it over the border, of course were made to pay a 7usd fee when there should be none and arrived at some hotel where some people got off after the stewardess told them to. mind you, she's got the passengers manifest, the ticket stubs and she asked every one on the bus where they were going. she even talked to my friend after coming back on the bus after that stop and was told again that we were going to tegucigalpa. still, she went back to the drivers cabin and off they took. just to stop 15 min later smack in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, yelling at us for still being there. then it took her and the driver another 15 min to flag down someone to take us back to the bus stop or that is what we assumed as they did not really bother to talk to us. well until the only guy who stopped asked for 15 usd and the girl wanted us to pay for it as she claimed it was our fault that we stayed on. at least that we did not do. we got in the very old truck and were taken back. not to the hotel, not really anywhere. the guy had no idea where to take us as it showed, the bus to tegucigalpa was never called to wait for us and the truck was ways to slow to have a chance to catch up with the bus. there wasn't enough fuel either. so after an unpleasant 30 min ride he stop at a very much closed fuel station and told us we had to get out, he could not take us anywhere anymore.in the end we were lucky that a family running a fruit stall nearby helped us to find a room to stay the night. a room by the way usually paid by the hour. the whole episode is so preposterous, i won't even bother with the fact that we never got a blanket or a pillow. i'd like a refund but i guess that is out of the question. what's left is the hope that you will stay away from king quality if you can!!

I spent a couple hours finding out how to get out of Managua and into Costa Rica. Fine man in a hotel, the concierge, helped out. It was determined a bus on King was leaving in an hour; had to get back to hostel for bags, taxi to the station in time to secure the tickets. YES, done even if costly, at the station with a couple gals sitting at a desk started the less than positive arena of customer service. Neither of them would allow a word of English-ness to escape their mouths so making the reservation was not easy or pleasant no matter what the company image was. It is a deluxe, first class, seats reserved, direct ride, etc. It was to leave at 12:30. At 1:30 nothing, no signs of a bus or that anyone was bothered! 2pm still nothing but one guy is showing some agitation. A while later a bus came, our bags loaded, we were told to go upstairs for seats. People were sitting in the seats we had been assigned but easily moved. We had bee told there would be food, but not when so anticipated it would be later on closer to dinner time. In the wait period I had bought a salad to have once on the bus.....I was really hungry by 3pm!! The bus was on the road maybe 10 minutes and came to another station! stopped,unloaded....what?! DIRECT?! While later the new bus took off. Once I finished my salad, the attendant came through and gave us the food!! Right, now I was filled up, but had many hours to go on the DIRECT bus ride! It was COLD having A/C blow on me the entire time and not necessary....and of course! no English. Attendant came through with canned pops.....terrible sweet crap which I gave her back. For your bus ride entertainment, several DVDs were shown but the screens were far off and few and the volume was less than useful.the thin blanket and teeny pillow dished out barely filled the need once the sun went down. As the A/C continued, it seeped and dripped down on my head and onto the floor making a large puddle. It was more of a pleasure to alight from the bus than any moment riding it.

Traveled to Guatemala from Managua. The ride takes 20 hours which was a bit too much for me. Buses are nice and service is alright. Not much to expect food-wise... The only problem I had was with A/C: way too cold inside the bus! I wonder why can't they turn it down a notch???

Good buses. The first leg from San Jose to Managua was only about 6-7 hours but left at like 4 AM. Bus not very full. Restroom was clean but small. Managua to San Salvador was more like 11+ hours (maybe 15 - it seemed like it) and long for a bus ride, esp. with 2 border stops. I think the restroom was out of order. On both trips the meal was really bad fast food. First one was from BK and like an egg mcmuffin but seemed like it had been made 3 days before and left out to get hard and stale. On the 2nd ride it was something else because it was lunchtime but also not so good. So bring your own food but other than this I'd use KQ again, and will.

I had a ticket purchased and everything, but the bus didn't come in the morning when they said it would. no phone call or email or anything to tell me what happened, so i went to the office and they said, "oh sorry, it isn't running today because of technical difficulties. you can take the bus tomorrow." ridiculous. use another company. at least i didn't have a flight to catch or something...

The drivers apparently have some deal with some customs/immigration guys to extort customers sometimes. So if you have any minor immigration flaws, like being a day late which is usually overlooked, or you have 3 cell phones or something, take the other bus lines.

I took King Quality to Nicarauga from El Salvador. the service was slow and the attendant worked with the border immigration to charge some passengers a fee to pass through.

Los precios son accesibles, pero el servicio aun deben pulirlo mas y mejorar las lineas de buses. Mejorar el sistema de reservas y respetar los lugares que se compran con anticipacion.