From Family Gap Year to Glamping Pioneers: How a 14,000-Mile Bus Trip Changed Their Lives

Meet Ruth Wimpory — the entrepreneur behind Skoolie Stays and The Vacationist, two of the UK’s favorite off-grid escapes. 

In 2019, Ruth and her husband, Guy, along with their two young children, decided to take a year off from their “normal” lives in Brighton in the UK, to embark on an adventurous year-long journey across the United States in a converted school bus. 

What started as a quest for a new perspective and family bonding turned into a 14,000-mile odyssey through national parks, homeschooling on the road, and navigating the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tune in to hear Ruth recount the highlights of their trip, from the breathtaking solitude of Montana's wilderness to the bustling streets of San Francisco. Discover how their travels inspired them to create Skoolie Stays and the Eco Glamping Club, offering unique off-grid stays that blend sustainability with luxury.

Ruth shares invaluable insights into the world of glamping, from the complexities of land regulations in the UK to the innovative use of recycled materials in their eco-cabin project. Learn about the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Ruth and Guy to build one-of-a-kind experiences, and how their story has inspired others to rethink conventional lifestyles.

Whether you're a travel enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration for a family adventure, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and insights you won't want to miss.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Turno. 

Turno is the smartest way to schedule, pay, and find vacation rental cleaners — think of Turno as an Uber or Task Rabbit for STR hosts. 

Simply create an account, describe your listing’s cleaning needs, and Turno will match you with cleaners near you. 

Turno offers simple, affordable pricing for STR hosts of any size. Single property accounts and Marketplace users get access to all the platform’s tools and features for FREE. And they make working with your existing teams easy too, with plans as low as just $6/month per property.

Learn more and earn a $150 Amazon Gift Card after you complete your first cleaning. 

Have you signed up for Ping yet?

Ping makes it easy for guests to be notified when their favorite Airbnbs become available — and it's the secret tool the best Airbnb hosts use to maximize bookings.

Sign up today at bnbping.com

Want to book a consulting brainstorm with Zach?

Send him an email directly at zach@sponstayneous.com or complete this payment link and get immediate access to his schedule where you can book some time with him!

About the Show

Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb.  

You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. 

Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.