price line

I always lease an apartment, packing my belongings into my truck bed. I find I can keep almost 2/3rds of my stipend this way. And my apartment is fully furnished with my own belongings.

I travel with: my full size bed, a bed frame (no box spring required), a small recliner (wingback type), a dining room table (the legs come off for easy transport and storage) two dining room chairs, a TV and TV stand, my kitchen supplies, my clothes, and my two cats and their supplies. The totes I carry my things in double as "night stands". Everything is "one person moveable" because sometimes I don't have help unpacking or packing.

Apartments will lease for short term, 3 month leases, but not all do. And they charge more monthly for rent when they do. But, still cheaper than an extended stay or taking the provided housing. I also find that, if I'm lucky, I can take over someone else's lease, saving the extra charge added to short term monthly rent.

But if you are dead set on not moving your own things or getting an apartment lease, then try calling or walking into an extended stay and tell them how long you'd like to stay. It actually works out better than online searching at priceline or their own website because their price goes down the longer you stay and I don't think the websites take that into consideration.

Good luck!

Except for the really crappy ones, extended stays will eat up your stipend, and usually even the really crappy ones. I don't think Priceline will change that equation, or even corporate discounts your agency may be able to provide you with. I've looked at them occasionally in both expensive and inexpensive areas and never been remotely tempted. I think with a little effort, the bottom line will be that you will have a richer bank account by five to 20 thousand dollars a year by looking at apartments, granny flats, and especially, house shares.

I do take cookware with me to assignments, but if I don't find a fully furnished place to rent, I'll shop garage sales and thrift shops and such, and toss or donate when I leave. I've even managed to furnish fully for free a couple times (Craiglist free stuff and evictions or voluntary curb side stuff). About the only thing I have to buy is a microwave on occasion, $20 used, or $50 new. But I do buy the occasional sofa or mattress off of Craigslist.

Craigslist is your friend in most places travelers go these days. If you post a housing wanted ad and describe your needs and that you are a travel nurse, you will get places and deals otherwise unadvertised. There are lots of other ways to find housing locally, but they require spending a few days there either before the assignment starts or during orientation. I usually have several places to look at lined up before I arrive.

If you are particularly fastidious, you can bring your own furniture (beds are sticking points for some, I'm not even sure how they manage hotels). But that ups the financial costs, a truck or a trailer.