If you ask a travel nurse what makes a “good contract,” you’d think the answer would be pay. But when we asked hundreds of current and former travelers to name the BEST hospital they’ve ever worked at, the ones they’d extend at, go back to, or even go staff for... money wasn’t the headline.

I’m a travel nurse recruiter who’s also lived the traveler life with my ICU-nurse husband and our crew. We’ve wintered in Arizona more times than I can count, and every single season reminds me why the Valley practically runs on travelers from October through April: warm, dry days; patio nights; and more things to do than you can possibly fit into a 13-week contract.

If you’re a travel healthcare pro (or RV family) bouncing between assignments, mail can feel… tricky. Good news: you’ve got options. From true mail-forwarding services to short-term solutions you can spin up at each contract. Below is what’s worked for us, plus alternatives many travelers use.

Hawaii offers travel nurses a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine meaningful work with island adventure. From surfing and snorkeling to volcano hikes and beach sunsets, this tropical state is as dreamy as it gets but it comes with high costs and slower-paced living. Our family of 5 traveled first to Honolulu and then to Hilo for a 13 week travel assignment in Jan through May of 2024. We even took our dog with us!

ER travel nurse jobs move fast, and the best ones don’t last long. I’ve pulled together my current “hot” ER contracts - the ones that stand out for pay, location, or great traveler experiences - so you can see the top picks without the search hassle.

Welcome to my always-updated list of “hot” ICU travel nurse jobs. I consider a job “hot” if it offers one (or more) of my top must-haves: great pay, solid location, strong traveler feedback, or a fast interview/offer process. I personally curate this list so you can skip the scrolling and get straight to the contracts worth looking at.

Labor & Delivery jobs can be competitive, but these “hot” contracts stand out from the rest. I’ve handpicked them for pay, schedule, and traveler feedback, so you can focus on the good stuff without the digging.

Med-surg travelers often have a ton of job postings to sort through — but not all of them are worth your time. This list is my curated pick of “hot” Med-surg jobs that stand out for pay, location, traveler feedback, or fast interviews.

NICU contracts, especially at higher levels, can disappear quickly. These are the “hot” NICU jobs I’m tracking right now, chosen for pay, location, and traveler experiences.