Have you ever wanted to break away from the hustle and bustle of your busy life and hit the road in a bus converted into a mobile home? Then try out bus living by booking a “skoolie” for your next vacation. Read on to learn more about some of the best must-visit bus conversions in the world.
Vintage school bus in Oak Harbor, Washington
This lovingly handcrafted vintage school bus in Oak Harbor, Washington, could be the very thing you’re looking for to rest, relax, and recuperate. It’s positioned near the harbor, restaurants, and downtown and is conveniently located in a quiet neighbourhood with a private outdoor space featuring a fire pit, shade, and sunshine.
Although the location is convenient and comfortable, it’s the bus’s interior that will truly impress. All 250 square feet of living space have been transformed into a tranquil house on wheels. The white ceiling and ample windows offer plenty of light, while the dark wood flooring, furniture, and joinery add a rustic charm.
A private bedroom in the rear services two guests, and there’s a fully functional kitchen adjacent.
You’ll even find a small bed nook above the dining area. This bus is a fully private unit, which means it has a full bathroom, including a sawdust composting toilet and a small copper shower. Quaint, cute, and charming, this school bus can’t help but impress. Book it here
Converted school bus in Paredón Buena Vista, Guatemala
Located in the popular Cocori Hostel in El Paredón Buena Vista, Guatemala is a cosy, tropical converted school bus. Even though you’re within a hostel environment, you get to rent your very own private slice of paradise, with a garden, outside area to enjoy, and easy access to a beach-front restaurant and bar, and a swimming pool.
The entire bus has been themed with tropical living in mind – from the hammock on the exterior to natural wood and neutral hues on the inside.
A comfortable queen bed is tucked away in the rear, with a dining nook adjacent featuring a hanging wood table. This bus also has potable water for coffee and tea, but there are no cooking facilities on the bus.
Don’t be fooled by the vibrant yellow exterior colour scheme, for this bus is all about calming vibes and rest. Take a break from your hectic schedule and relax in this peaceful tropical haven. Book it here
Urtban skoolie in Olympia, Washington
The Skoolie is a 40-foot-long, eight-foot-wide 1992 Thomas school bus in Olympia, Washington, that has undergone a complete transformation to become a beautiful tiny home for anyone to enjoy.
One of the first things you’ll notice as you step inside is the nod to mother nature. Cedar ceilings throughout make the bus both feel and smell cosy. This feeling is further maximized by the use of natural and neutral colours, like green cabinetry and curtains and stunning wood flooring.
The king-sized bed in the rear is bound to be a highlight, as will the mini wood-burning stove in the bedroom and luxurious bathroom with a convenient and water-free composting toilet.
The centrally-positioned kitchen even has everything you need to dine conveniently, such as running water and a two-burner stove. Book it here
Off-grid eco bus in Taos County, New Mexico
Get back to nature in more ways than one by booking this off-grid eco-haven in Taos County, New Mexico. This beautifully renovated vibrant yellow 1971 school bus on 10 acres near the Rio Grande river gorge is all about appreciating simplicity.
The interior is light, bright, spacious, and uncluttered, not to mention comfortable. There’s a luxurious bed with all linen provided to the rear, a central kitchenette with a double-burner stove, and solar lamps for ambience at night.
While there isn’t a bathroom inside this bus, there is a solar shower outside, along with a cob outhouse featuring a composting toilet.
From the ample windows for light to the calming colour scheme for rest and relaxation, this off-grid oasis has a lot to offer the average environmentally-conscious traveller. Book it here
The original Spice World bus on Isle of Wight, England
Tell me what you want, what you really really want. Is it to stay on the original Spice bus from the 1997 movie Spice World? Well, here’s your chance! This beautiful bus is the very same one from the film, and it has been lovingly updated to become a comfortable form of accommodation for those exploring the Isle of Wight.
There are three Union Jack cinema-style chairs, and the entire exterior is emblazoned with the Union Jack.
While it has undergone renovations to include a double bed, day bed, separate dressing room, and room to relax, it also has plenty of bold interior features to make you feel like you indeed are on the Spice Girls tour bus.
This bus doesn’t have a bathroom or kitchen on board, but there is a facilities block for private use within a few steps. Book it here
The WanderBus in Dripping Springs, Texas
Adventurers and explorers are invited to experience a form of accommodation with a difference. The WanderBus, a renovated 1973 school bus, is bound to impress with its boho-chic décor, Dripping Springs location, and amenities for rest and relaxation.
What you’ll first notice about this bus are its copper ceilings and accents—these contrast beautifully against the natural wood flooring, beautiful wood cabinetry, and white walls. The centre of the bus has been well set up for comfort and convenience and features a coffee maker, microwave, fridge, and even a record player.
To the rear, you’ll discover a beautiful queen memory foam bed with a nearby bathroom featuring everything you need for a convenient stay.
There’s a fold-out sofa for relaxing or as an additional bed for a guest in the living room. With décor to match the boho-chic theme throughout, it’s hard not to be impressed by what The WanderBus has to offer. Book it here
Retro school bus in Cedar Creek, Texas
This renovated Nashville public school bus in Cedar Creek, Texas, is the epitome of a luxury getaway. If it’s not its serene location nestled in the trees near a stream that lures you in, then it will be the beautiful bus itself that has undergone a complete transformation from its earlier school days.
The farm-style interior can’t help but evoke feelings of warmth and welcome as soon as you open the bus door.
There’s a wood-burning fireplace for ambience and warmth, a luxury queen bed with remote-controlled air conditioning and heating, and a sofa that can also make up another queen bed.
When not in use, the queen bed can be turned back into two comfortable sofas, with a pull-down dining table for games or dining. Even the kitchen is something special, with a two-burner cooktop, convection oven, and a full-size fridge. The icing on the cake is the bathroom, with a convenient walk-in shower and all the bathroom amenities you need. Book it here
Luxurious skoolie in Houston, Texas
Just minutes from nightlife and world-class restaurants in Houston, Texas, lies a unique and luxurious 1999 Bluebird school bus conversion you’ll be jumping at the chance to book. Well and truly designed for comfort, you’ll never want to leave!
The bus features a beautiful wood, white, and blue colour scheme that offers a light, bright, and cosy vibe. To the rear, you’ll find a private and comfortable bedroom with a double bed, which is positioned near the full kitchen.
With a three-burner gas cooktop and the generous kitchen sink, you’ll have no problem cooking up a storm.
Nearby is a comfortable dining and lounge area, which also forms an additional single and double bed. Every guest can remain comfortable courtesy of the AC unit, paved sitting area outside, and convenient LED lighting throughout. Made for rest, relaxation, and comfort, this luxurious skoolie meets the mark. Book it here
Luxury bus with hot tub in Gifford, Scotland
If the idea of waking up under a glass roof to views of the Lammermuir Hills in Gifford, Scotland, sounds like your idea of paradise, then it’s time to book a stay in this four-person luxury bus. It’s so well designed that it can be hard to remember that it even is a bus.
It has a beautiful deck spanning the front, plenty of windows for views, and a vibrant colour scheme to set the scene. Although, as ‘rustic’ as the outside looks, the inside is anything but. You can enjoy an eclectic mix of rustic and contemporary design.
Whitewood curved ceilings set the scene, with a cool, contemporary colour scheme throughout. There’s also a quaint dining nook with purple upholstery, wood plank flooring, and a generous kitchen with everything you need.
Bunk beds service the young members of the family.
A king-size bed tucks away neatly in the master bedroom with a curved skylight overhead. Book it here
Emerald gypsy skoolie in Mountain View, Arkansas
The Emerald Gypsy is a beautiful school bus conversion located in Mountain View, Arkansas. From the vibrant emerald exterior to the beautiful natural backdrop, what more could you need? Well, it also helps that the interior is as luxurious as it gets.
The seamless layout provides plenty of space for the average couple, with a bedroom nook to the rear and a central living and kitchen area. The bathroom, with a toilet in the full-size shower, is to the end.
Cook up a storm in the well-equipped kitchenette, or snuggle down at night in the full-size memory foam bed or pull-out couch. There’s even a smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, and WiFi included in the experience.
All essentials like linen and cookware are supplied, so all that’s left to do is relax. Relaxing certainly won’t be hard to do in this bus, with a calming neutral colour scheme pairing beautifully with natural wood flooring, benchtops, and even walls. Book it here.
Converted double decker bus in Kingsbridge, England
Suppose you like the idea of camping, but not the sacrifice of all life’s conveniences. In that case, this converted double-decker bus can be a compromise. Located in a private woodland area with a deck and convenient shopping opportunities nearby, what more do you need?
While the bus looks inviting from the outside, it’s the interior that will truly captivate. The entire bus has been well-designed for both space and style, and no stone has been left unturned in creating a remarkable holiday destination.
The lower deck offers a full kitchen with a fridge-freezer, sink, and cooker, with a bar adjacent. There’s also a convenient bathroom with a shower and washbasin in the rear. Light colours and subtle hints of nature maximise the light, bright, and spacious aspects of this bus.
The top deck is no different. A large, cosy seating area gives you somewhere to relax and watch TV, while a double bed and two bunk beds provide an entire family somewhere to rest their heads. Book it here.
Double decker school bus in Attalla, Alabama
Nestled in rural northern Alabama’s Appalachian foothills sits a beautiful form of accommodation you may not have ever seen before – a bus with a Volkswagen on the top. Quirky from the outside, the inside certainly doesn’t disappoint on this front, either.
A vibrant yellow colour scheme, only broken up by the occasional touch of blue and natural wood, welcomes you inside. The bus’s main area comprises a dining area, comfortable sofa, and a king bed with ample natural light.
Climb the ladder into the Volkswagen, and find yourself in a quaint reading nook to read the days away.
This bus doesn’t have a kitchen or bathroom, but these are a short few steps away in a separate tiny house. Have full access to a kitchen with a stove, fridge, coffee maker, and microwave, not to mention extra bunk beds for more family members. Book it here