The double-decker bus can be used as a hostel. Gijs Hardeman
Saskia van Leuwen and her three friends bought a double-decker coach bus and renovated it.
It's now a hostel with a living area, nine bunk beds and a unique kitchen.
You can rent a hostel bus bed for $464 to $990.
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Saskia van Leuwen worked in events in 2019 when she decided to embark on a big, dream-like project with three of her friends.
Saskia van Leuween. 'La Karavana
Van Leeuwen dreamed of being a travel agent when she was working as an event manager in the Netherlands. She had spent years traveling and fell in love with hostels. However, it was too restrictive for her.
Van Leeuwen stated that he didn't like the idea being locked in one spot. "The best solution is to have a hostel where you can move."
Jolisa van Leuwen was her twin sister. Lisa de Bree and Eileen Helfferich were her friends. They decided to open a hostel on a bus they could drive around in and take to different places.
They first found a double-decker bus on an online Dutch marketplace. They bought it for just $8,000.
They bought the bus. Gijs Hardeman
They knew the bus was perfect when they saw it for themselves on a tour of its 430-square foot size.
Van Leeuwen stated, "Immediately, it was like, Oh my God! This is amazing!" "We could see the beds, the kitchen and everything.
They pooled their funds and purchased the bus for 7,000 Euros or $8,136.
They then took the bus to the street-art festival, where they enlisted Tymon de laat's help.
The painted bus. La Karavana
The bus's exterior was decorated in a very unique way that surprised the women.
Van Leuween stated, "After Tymon painted a bus, everybody [was] like OK maybe, maybe it's gonna work."
The four friends didn't have any renovation experience so they had to learn everything as they went.
The bus was renovated by the women. Gijs Hardeman
They relied on their event management skills and treated the renovation as a huge event. Van Leuween stated that they organized everything and treated it professionally.
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First, they had to replace the rubber insulation that was around the windows. It was leaking and was causing problems. This seemingly easy task took them several months to complete. After the insulation was completed, the women began to build the interior using YouTube videos and local builders.
They focused their renovation efforts on the full-time construction of the bus.
Work on the bus. Gijs Hardeman
They were mostly event managers and didn't have any jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. This gave them the freedom to concentrate on renovations which typically took between 30 and 40 hours per week.
Van Leeuwen stated that "for us, the timing couldn’t have been better." "It would have been more difficult because we wouldn’t have had as much time [to work on a bus]."
They also needed a special license for driving the bus while renovating.
All of them needed a truck licence. Gijs Hardeman
They needed a license in the Netherlands to drive a truck this size. So they had to all take lessons. They had to wait several months before they could practice and take the test, as COVID closed down all Dutch businesses.
Van Leeuwen was happy to report that she passed the test first time.
"It's great because people look at me and then again and ask, 'Is she a chick?'" She added.
After spending a year and half working on the bus, they were finally able to build a tiny home.
The final bus. Gijs Hardeman
They spent approximately $40,000 to renovate the bus. However, they did manage to raise $17,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to offset the cost.
The bus is now complete.
The kitchen sink. La Karavana
The sink is actually made from a tin can, and the handles of the cabinets are made of belt straps that they purchased at thrift shops. The kitchen also has two refrigerators.
There is ample seating in the back of the bus.
The seating area. La Karavana
Van Leeuwen stated that they enjoy playing board games and eating dinner back home.
The bus's exterior will take you to the toilet.
The bathroom. La Karavana
Van Leeuwen stated that a wall separates the living area from the bathroom. However, since you must enter the bathroom from outside, it gives it a more private feel.
On the second floor, there are nine bunk beds.
The bunk beds La Karavana
They don't live full-time on the bus. They take turns hosting trips and driving guests around the bus, swapping out one at a time. Two beds on the second level are for women, and seven are for guests.
Every bed comes with a privacy curtain as well as a reading lamp.
Their hostel, La Karavana finally made it to the road at the end of 2021.
While on a trip, the bus is parked. La Karavana
La Karavana has so far been to the Netherlands in a few regions, including Groningen and Overijssel.
Van Leeuwen explained that there are two ways you can experience the hostel if you are interested in booking a room.
Camping with the bus La Karavana
You can share the seven beds with friends, and van Lewuween will help you create an itinerary. Van Leeuwen's two team members will be on the trip as drivers and hosts.
You can also rent a single room on a trip already in existence, similar to a hostel. You will meet seven strangers as well as two hosts on these trips.
It costs $464 for a weekend and $990 for a week depending on where you are going.
It is more expensive to travel by bus for a week. Daley Cousin
Single-night bookings are not possible, however all meals are vegetarian and included in the cost. Activities and excursions are included.
Van Leeuwen admitted that she has only done a few trips so far and is eager to see what the future holds.
They intend to take more trips. Gijs Hardeman
The bus isn’t making them any money (insurance costs a lot), but they are looking forward to what’s next.
They will be embarking on their third journey in the coming weeks. They hope to travel internationally in 2022.
Van Leeuwen stated, "I'm proud that the four of us created this bus." "Even though neither of us had any prior experience in building or operating a bus, it shows that nothing is impossible."
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