Tips for travelling to Hawaii

sc0811 · Jul 22, 2014

I just left Hawaii. I did not like it. I had to fight to get a rental car. The hospital staff were rude. The experience was ok but the money was terrible. It was not worth it.

wylie-coyote · Jul 22, 2014

I just left Hawaii. I did not like it. I had to fight to get a rental car. The hospital staff were rude. The experience was ok but the money was terrible. It was not worth it.

That's a bummer, what unit, hospital, agency? I was looking forward to doing a travel assignment there this winter.

Stripes311 · Jul 22, 2014

Hi 88nurse2010,

I did two assignments in Hawaii a few years ago and I had a more positive experience than the previous poster.

You are smart to start the research process right now of islands, hospitals and companies. It's also good you already have some travel experience under your belt so you know the pressures and expectations of a travel nurse.

The company you work for will truly make or break your experience in Hawaii. Being so far away from home and getting tossed into a brand new job with new people, policies and procedures is hard enough... having a company that doesn't fully provide you with things you need makes it even more difficult.

Through my personal experience may I suggest that you require the following from a travel company if you're going to Hawaii:

1. Provides housing. My company fully provided housing. I had the choice between a stipend or their housing. I took their housing they found because I didn't feel like dealing with the hassle of looking for my own. If you are going with a friend or craigslist savvy though that's of course an option.

2. Pay for your ENTIRE flight. ENTIRE FLIGHT... not a stipend there and back.

3. Pay for your ENTIRE car. ENTIRE CAR... I can't stress this enough. You're going to land at that airport and be excited and nervous. Trying to haggle with independent people who rent their car to travelers, or paying the money to personally rent from a reputable dealer from an airport gets so so so expensive and stressful. (That happened to me the first time around).

As travelers we already know we need to earn the respect of the staff to survive. Although we can't control other's opinions about us in life I think if you go in with a positive attitude willing to work hard and help others on your floor you will thrive along with your patients.

You may not make the "big bucks" in Hawaii but like every assignment it is exactly what you make of it. Outside of work there is so much to do. Each island is so beautiful and unique. Even in Hawaii there's definitely days that are tough for different reasons. But like all travel assignments you will meet special people and make memories because you put yourself out there and tried something new.

I can't stress enough about the housing, car and flight. You need to find out right off the bat what the company you're considering provides for Hawaii travelers. Most times it is not up to the recruiters, it's the company. It doesn't mean that they are a bad company, they may be excellent for a mainland assignment but for a Hawaii assignment you really ought to think about what you want... it is intimidating at times asking these questions to recruiters because you don't want to appear rude or presumptuous but please remember you're going to be the one out there by yourself not them.

I wish you and anyone else the best of luck on your Hawaii endeavors! I say... go for it! :)

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2014

Could you share the name of a travel agency that is willing to pay for the entire flight, the rental car and makes the housing arrangements or pays a $2000 housing stipend for Hawaii?

I was offered 24/hr and the recruiter could not give me any specifics about housing. I passed.

Stripes311 · Jul 23, 2014

Hi icuRNmaggie! It was Medical Staffing Solutions. I don't think their stipend was $2000 for housing but they did find nice private housing for me and covered it 100%. Hopefully they still do.