A Shady Dell travel guide based on our adventures.

The Shady Dell is a vintage trailer park hotel that Kelsey found on Pinterest. We were working near Tucson, Arizona at the time and decided the two-hour car ride to the middle of nowhere Arizona would be a fun weekend adventure.

It was a perfect yet unique getaway and is a must-see hotel. Since we are obsessed with tiny home living staying in vintage trailers was such a fun getaway.

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Where to Stay

There are 12 trailers to choose from at The Shady Dell and everyone is very unique. They offer different sizes and amenities depending on which one you pick. There is a bathhouse on site as only a few rentals have bathrooms.

1947 Tiki Bus

The Tiki Bus is an old 1947 Airporter bus that we're pretty sure no longer runs but makes for a super cool hotel stay. There is a full bed which is partly why we decided on this one. It technically sleeps 3 as there is a little single bed. The bus also has its own toilet that made having to use the bathroom in the middle of the night better.

The tiki decorations are super cutesy and fun. Plus, you have an outside bar and sitting area. Also adding to the vintage vibe is an old record player with some records to choose from. For coffee, you do have to use a percolator (once again with the vintage vibe) which was a fun little experience.

Where to Eat

Contessa's Cantina

Located in downtown Bisbee, Arizona only 15 min from The Shady Dell is a great Mexican restaurant called Contessa's Cantina. They have both indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy the nice Arizona weather.

We loved the restaurant because of the large portion sizes and some great Spanish rice. They serve unique margaritas with jalapeños and micheladas. They also have fried ice cream and some dessert drinks.

What to Do

Downtown Bisbee

Bisbee is technically the town where The Shady Dell is located so visiting downtown is easy. The city started as a mining town but now offers an almost "flashback to the past" experience. To be honest we would probably not go out of our way JUST to visit Bisbee but while staying in our vintage Tiki Bus it's a good place nearby to check out.

The buildings are beautiful as most are brick and there's a lot of little stores to check out. We bought some chocolates and popcorn both from the makers themselves. Even if you don't want to do any shopping it is a beautiful stroll through the town.

We hope our travel guide for Shady Dell, Arizona will give you inspiration and help you plan your next trip. A vintage trailer park hotel in Arizona and a unique getaway. Happy Adventuring!

Our Shady Dell Travel Video Diary