You might be wondering, how does a travel nurse find housing?
Planning a move and finding new accommodations every 13 weeks can be overwhelming and stressful. We are here to help make the process easier for you. First, we explain how travel nurses are reimbursed for accommodations and then provide our recommendations on how to find the best housing.
How Travel Nurses Pay for Accommodations
As discussed in our What is a Travel Nurse’s Salary article, travel nurses receive a weekly housing stipend that helps cover the accommodation cost while on assignment. A great tip is to research the cost of living and average rent costs in an area before applying for positions there. This will help you make an informed decision on accepting an assignment in said location based on the pay rates offered.
Travel Nursing Housing Process
- Research the Area
- Explore Hotels/Housing Websites
- Visit the Area
- Message the Landlord
- Sign a Lease!
Having recently signed a new housing contract, I will share my experience along with some tips and tricks to finding the perfect lodging.
Once I signed my contract, I got to researching. I chose to stay in a hotel for the first week of my assignment. Staying in a hotel means I don’t have to worry about losing a deposit if my contract was cancelled early on. My contracted pay rate decreased before I had even begun my previous assignment, resulting in a $500 difference per week; or $6500 loss total. I had already signed a three-month lease for housing and could not back out of my assignment to look for a new one because I still had to pay first and last rent to give 30 days notice.
There is always a chance your assignment is cancelled before you even start. Staying in a hotel allows you to be more flexible with alternate options without losing a deposit and to explore different areas of the town.
Hotels
My husband and I are avid collectors of both airline and hotel points. We choose our credit cards strategically to gain the most benefits from various programs such as AMEX, Aeroplan, Hyatt and Marriot.
This makes staying at hotels even easier for us. We look for hotels at Marriott because we have status from them having the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. We also accumulate points from staying at hotels during promotional periods for example, during double points nights. The allowed us to gain Platinum Elite Status meaning I always know breakfast and wifi will be complimentary, among other great perks.
Many other hotel brands offer deals on rates, such as Extended Stay America and Staybridge Suites. Your travel nurse agency will also provide you with corporate rates on hotels. Ask your recruiter for those perks if you can’t find them!
There are many other housing options available if you’d prefer to stay in one location for the entirety of your contract. I expand on the most popular housing options below.
Furnished Finder
Furnished Finder is a short-term housing website made for travelling professionals. You can search for housing all over the US and filter by location, pet-friendly, bedrooms etc. There is an option to message the owner or submit a housing request. I have used this service for my last three assignments in Boston, Colorado and Maryland and have always had good experiences.
Airbnb and VRBO
Airbnb or VRBO offer a variety of accommodations for short-term stays. Be aware of all the extra fees you will be paying that can sneak up on you while browsing these services. It may be beneficial to message the owner directly to coordinate a flat monthly rate. Indicating that you are a travel nurse looking a 3-month rental or more can be intriguing to a landlord as it guarantees them rent for an extended period.
Hello Landing and Blueground
Hello Landing is a service I found through my travel nurse agency Host Healthcare. They provided a special corporate discount rate. Hello Landing and Blueground are a similar service to Airbnb and VRBO. However, they are geared towards long-term stays as they require booking for a minimum of 30 days.
Facebook Groups
Another great way to find housing is through local housing rental Facebook groups. There may be opportunities to take over a lease, or people sublet their homes and rooms for specific periods.
The Gypsy Facebook Group is a large travel nurse-focused page created for housing. Logan used The Original Gypsy Housing NYC and found a lease takeover in Lower Manhattan and has now lived there for over a year.
In Summary
When searching for housing for my next assignment, be sure to check multiple sources. It is helpful to ask other travellers, family, and friends about their experience in the city. I travel with two cats which can sometimes make things a little tricker and limit my options looking at only pet-friendly stays.
Recently, I chose to fly to the city of my new contract before I started to get a feel for the area. I was so happy I did as I was unfamiliar with the neighbourhoods. This allowed me to speak to locals who gave me suggestions and helped narrow down my search.
Finding housing as a travel nurse can be difficult, but being organized and doing your research before hand will make the process smoother for you.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are considering making the great leap into Travel Nursing in the US, The Guide to Becoming a Travel Nurse provides insight and answers many questions. We will be updating this guide frequently with new information and links often. The information we provide is purely from our personal experiences and what we have learnt along the way.
You can also reach out to us in the contact section by sending us an email or leave a comment below with any questions about the process. We are happy to help you get started!
My name is Marta, I’m a pediatric emergency room nurse from Toronto travelling in the US. I have taken assignments most recently in Boston and Denver. I travel with my husband who is a travel points enthusiast and manages to find amazing deals using points to fulfill all of our travel bucket-list goals. Join us on our next adventure after 13 weeks!