calling all travelers!

OkieICU_RN · Apr 17, 2008

All of this is extremely variable depending on where you go across the 50 states. Just FYI, Hawaii doesn't pay real well since everyone wants to go there. There, you will get airfare, housing and about $30-32/hr. It's very expensive there. You might get about $2000/month living stipend if you don't take their housing, but apartments in Honolulu go for about $1500 to $2500 for a studio. If you just want to go for the experience and don't have a lot of stuff at home you are paying for, it's doable.

rplf29 · Apr 20, 2008

so your saying that working at Honolulu, Hawaii as a nurse is Expensive?...

OkieICU_RN · Apr 20, 2008

so your saying that working at Honolulu, Hawaii as a nurse is Expensive?...

I am saying that it would be for me. It depends on what you have going on back home.

If you are making $30 an hour, having to pay for transportation (bus fare, cab fare, renting a car or shipping your own car over there) while you are there. I have been told by several travel companies that they will not pay for a car on Oahu because public transportation is readily available. I have talked to 2 agencies in Hawaii and several on the mainland.

Food costs and other things that are higher there. So on top of that, I'd still have to pay for my house back where I live (which you have to have a tax home to get the tax free benefits of paid housing), my car payment, car insurance, .....the list goes on.

I guess I'm just trying to say: go for the experience, not to make money and maybe pay ahead at home before you go so you're not stressed in paradise.

I have heard of nurses going with no travel experience but many of the companies told me that some of the hospitals require previous travel experience so there's a chance that you may not be able to go there as your first assigment.

registeredin06 · Apr 20, 2008

Hey thanks for the info. You are right--I plan on doing a couple local assignments before then to build my resume. I appreciate your feedback!

bagladyrn, RN · Apr 21, 2008

Okie has it right - the payrate in Hawaii is very low compared to the expenses. Food, gasoline and just about everything else you buy there is more expensive by about the same percentage as the housing.

It's a fine place to go if you look at it as a working vacation. You will not get ahead there, but it's a good way to spend time in Hawaii.

rplf29 · Apr 21, 2008

ah.. thanks i see now.