Double Decker bus converted into Airbnb in Idaho

Double-Decker Hideaway

1995 Leyland Olympian Caldwell, ID

Angie and Dustin Mori, the creative owners of Double Decker Espresso, returned to us for their second bus purchase to create the Double Decker Hideaway.

This unique Airbnb retreat is a 1995 Leyland Olympian double-decker. Over 13 months, the couple undertook the complex conversion themselves, skillfully integrating a full kitchen and bathroom. To maintain mobility, they installed a 120V electrical system for easy hookups and a clever plumbing system with custom grey and black water tanks.

Nestled on their two-acre property in Idaho, the bus blends an English pub vibe downstairs with an English cottage feel upstairs and offers a unique lodging experience with stunning views, making it a must-visit for travelers seeking a fun and memorable stay.

Bursting onto the scene in October 2021, it instantly captured the spotlight as the first-ever double-decker bus listed on Airbnb in the United States, pioneering a new trend in unique stays.

Certainly a proud moment for us at Double Decker Imports!

Testimonial

Double Decker Imports was so great to work with! I admit I had to get over sending money in advance without a bus first, but they provided all the information we needed in order to feel comfortable with the transaction. The bus was a big enough decision, it felt very good to have someone handle all the logistics of getting here.

It went so well, we decided to do it again!

Our mobile coffee shop has been so much fun. The Airbnb bus has exceeded our expectations and people really love to stay in it. I tell people, if you need a double decker bus (and who wouldn’t!)… Jerry from DDI is the guy!

Dustin and Angie Mori, Idaho USA

Would recommend Double Decker Imports

Photos

Before

Photo of the electrical process of a vintage double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.
Photo of construction process of a vintage UK double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.

After

Photo of the outside garden of a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.
Front photo a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb, Idaho.
Photo of the bottom floor, kitchen space of a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.
Photo of the living room of a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb.
Photo of the bedroom of a vintage UK double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.
Photo of the bathroom of a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb in Idaho.
Photo of the reading room in a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb.
Photo of the upper deck of a double decker bus converted into an Airbnb.
Photo of two double decker buses, one converted into an Airbnb and the other a cafeteria in Idaho.
Photo of two double decker buses, one converted into an Airbnb and the other a cafeteria.

Project Video

Q&A

How has it served your business?

The bus has been such an exciting addition! We just celebrated our third anniversary of being open with Double-Decker Espresso, and many of our customers used to say things like, ‘This would be so cool as an RV!’ or ‘I would love to live in something like this!’. That really got the idea for an Airbnb bus forming early on. We listed it on Airbnb, and it’s been a ride! We were sobered to know that we really had to be all the way ready when our first guest booked within hours of listing.

We’re three months in, and it feels so good to have the gigantic task of transforming the bus behind us. Our first guests have all been so kind with their reviews and genuinely seem to love the bus. It’s been a unique offering for us, and we’re the first double-decker in the United States listed on Airbnb, which is really special. We’re planning to keep it open year-round and are learning a lot, especially with things like the water lines freezing in sub-freezing temps. We plan to introduce the possibility of mobile delivery in the future, but for now, it’s serving as a fantastic and unique lodging option on our property.

How did you find the conversion process?

The conversion was a massive undertaking! We’d never done anything this complex before, especially trying to fit a full kitchen and bathroom while keeping it mobile. We had to learn as we went, trusting Dustin to handle the heavy lifting like electrical and plumbing, including fitting the gray water tank underneath and the black tank inside. My job was the design, defining an ‘English pub’ feel downstairs and an ‘English cottage’ upstairs. That really helped guide decisions on paint, flooring, and counters, especially navigating tricky curved floors upstairs. We transformed a vintage nightstand into a custom vanity, and found these amazing, lightweight, waterproof tiles for the shower that look like marble. We worked on it for 13 months, often in our spare time, through summer heat. It was a huge learning curve and a ton of work, but we are incredibly pleased with the final result!

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