School Bus Turned Hotel on Wheels Has a Feature-Rich Interior, It Can Fit up to 7 Guests

After traveling around Europe for several years in their converted VW van, Jonas and Lore wanted to create something to share their lifestyle. And that's how their business, "Off the Beaten Path," came to be. In 2022, the duo purchased a bus and converted it into a hotel on wheels.

I'm sure there are some similar businesses out there, but I hadn't heard about this type of venture. Sure, you can rent out various rigs from individuals, but typically not with the owners as drivers. I'll talk more about the business at the end of the article. First, let's take a closer look at the rig.

What we have here is a 2008 Iveco Crossway bus, which used to be a French school bus. Yes, you read that right – this is what school buses can look like in Europe. The vehicle measures 12 meters (39 feet) in length and tips the scales at 12 tons (24,000 lb.).

One of the things you have to consider when converting pretty much any type of vehicle is fuel consumption. To be frank, this bus's numbers aren't that bad: 20 L/100 km (11.8 MPG) on the highway and 30 L/100km (7.8 MPG) in the city.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. You'll be able to tell there's something different about this bus as soon as you lay eyes on it - besides a big sticker on the side that reads "Hotel on Wheels," the 700 W solar panels on the roof might also give away its "camper DNA."

There's another feature on the roof I've never seen before on a bus: a pop-up tent. Typically, people install these on overlanders and camper vans. However, this couple wanted to have an additional sleeping arrangement for two people. The tent comes with zippable windows and a mattress. If we count this space as a room (and I see no reason why we shouldn't), up to seven guests can stay in this hotel.

One advantage of turning a bus into a camper is the amount of storage space you have inside and out. Most buses come with exterior storage compartments – in this one, the compartments hold a 60-liter (16-gallon) propane tank, a massive 500-liter (132-liter) freshwater tank, a Truma boiler, various tools and hoses, and the electrical system.

As expected, this bus boasts a capable 12 V power system. Its highlights are 700 Ah batteries, an inverter/charger, and a solar charge controller connected to the solar panels on top of the vehicle. Finally, at the rear, you'll notice a bike rack mounted to the engine cover.

That's it for the exterior, so let's step inside. The driver's cabin was left mostly untouched, but the rest of the interior was radically transformed. The first part behind the driver's cabin is the seating area.

It comprises two identical dinettes, each with four seats and a sizeable table in between. Moreover, this is where the guests will be sitting, as each seat comes with safety belts. Other notable elements in this area are four overhead cabinets, a long shelf, and a skylight.

Next, we have the kitchen, which is split into two parts. As a hotel on wheels, you must have a well-equipped kitchen. This one features a deep sink, a full-size oven/ four-burner stove, a ton of counter space, and a surprisingly small Dometic fridge/freezer. You'll also notice a control panel, which comprises a Cerbo GX controller for the power system and a heater controller.

Regarding storage, you'll discover a lot of spots, including overhead cabinets, enormous drawers, pull-out bins, a slide-out pantry, a long shelf holding jars, and more. There's surely enough room to fit food, dry goods, spices, or whatever else you need to cook delicious meals for guests.

In the rear part of the kitchen, you'll find one of the two heating options inside this rig: a tiny wood stove. It not only does a good job of heating up the area but also gives a cozy feel to the space. One mistake the couple made was installing the stove too high up – that's why they added a second heating source: a propane-powered heater.

Walk past the kitchen, and you'll find the second entrance to this bus, which is typically reserved for guests. Near it, Jonas and Lore devised a tall unit integrating two cabinets as well as a shelf above it.

Dead ahead as you enter through here, you'll notice the bus's bathroom. It's relatively tiny but comes with a large window with a curtain, shelves, a mirror, and a shower. However, the most interesting feature here is a Cinderella incinerating toilet.

Long story short, an incinerating toilet uses electricity to start and propane to burn everything you put inside it. All that's left for you to clean is a tiny bit of ash, which is sterile and doesn't have to be dumped at designated sites.

This kind of toilet is the most expensive you can get – it will set you back around $4,000 to $5,000 (€3,679 to €4,600), depending on the exact model. However, there's little waste you have to deal with, and it doesn't smell.

Up to four people can be accommodated in the following part of the bus: the bunk bedroom. You'll find five beds, two on each side and one further back at the rear – each of them is 200 centimeters (6'5") long and 80 centimeters (2'6") wide. Furthermore, they look really comfortable and come with a storage spot and a curtain.

Finally, like in most skoolies, the rearmost part of the bus is taken up by the master bedroom. To enter, you'll have to slide open a tiny door located above one of the guest beds. The master bedroom features a double bed and various storage spots in the form of cabinets.

All in all, Jonas and Lore did a fantastic job transforming this bus into a hotel on wheels. It's cozy, aesthetically pleasing, and well-equipped to accommodate guests comfortably. I love this couple's business idea, which not only turns a profit but is also a great opportunity for them to connect with new people while also showing them how exciting and fun a mobile lifestyle can be.

You're probably curious about the cost of this mobile home. Most of the skoolies I've written about are in the $30,000 to $40,000 ($32,634 to $43,512) range, but this isn't your standard conversion. That means it was more expensive to build. One thing I'm not entirely sure about is whether the quotes the couple shared are in dollars or euros, but I'm assuming euros since the two are based in Europe.

Jonas and Lore spent €10,000 ($10,879) on the base vehicle and invested a further €70,000 – €80,000 ($10,878 - $87,023) on the conversion, bringing the total price of the rig to a hefty €80,000 – €90,000 ($87,023 - $97,901). That makes this bus the priciest skoolie I've ever written about – and I've covered a lot of skoolies here on autoevolution.

"Off the Beaten Path" offers two ways of renting the bus. You can grab a group of friends and have Jonas and Lore as hosts for the trip. Alternatively, you can rent it as a one-of-a-kind group accommodation for a wedding or festivity. That means you can have the bus all to yourself, but you cannot drive it – it'll serve as a stationary hotel.

Jonas and Lore haven't shared the prices for either option; you'll have to contact them on Off the Beaten Path's website, where you can also find more info about their story and the bus.