Whether you’re a single parent or married with children, you may think that travel healthcare is not an option for you due to family obligations. One common misconception is that travel healthcare is only for individuals who are single, or who travel with a partner also working in travel healthcare, or who don’t have dependents. While it may be easier for those without a partner or children to pack up and leave, it is indeed possible to travel with your family!
Will traveling with your family be challenging? Possibly! However, once your family gets accustomed to being on the move, traveling together can lead to rewarding experiences. In this blog, we’ll cover the pros and cons of traveling with your family to help you decide which route is best for you.
Traveling With Your Partner
Pros:
1 - Shared Adventures
One of the main advantages of pursuing a travel healthcare career is the opportunity to visit and experience new cities. If you and your partner enjoy traveling, bringing them along on your next assignment is a great idea! During your days off, you can explore the new city together—whether it’s shopping, taking tours, hiking, or just driving around. You can also try out new restaurants that you might not have in your hometown or attend events at local theaters or comedy clubs. Before you begin your assignment, consider creating a list of activities you and your partner would like to do to make your stay even more enjoyable.
2 - Financial Stability
Another advantage of traveling with your partner is the opportunity to save money. Typically, travel healthcare professionals earn more than permanently staffed caregivers, and receive benefits to help with travel expenses such as housing stipends, food allowances, and bonuses for signing on or completing assignments. If both you and your partner are travel healthcare professionals, the costs for travel, housing, and food could be largely, if not entirely, covered by these stipends. Traveling together allows you to save money or have extra funds available for activities throughout the new area.
3 - Visit Out-of-Town Family or Friends
Do you have family or friends who live out of town? Perhaps a family member stationed in Alaska due to their military service, or a childhood best friend who has landed their dream job in Colorado? One of the greatest advantages of a travel healthcare career is the opportunity to work in different locations. If you have loved ones in another city, consider taking an assignment near them and spend time catching up! Plus, you’ll have a personal tour guide to help you explore the area if you’re new to the city!
4 - Increased Adaptability
Our last advantage of traveling with your partner is increased adaptability. Exploring new cities not only provides fresh experiences but also encourages you to step outside your comfort zone. You'll meet new people, learn new routines, navigate new cities, find a better work-life balance, and more.
Cons:
1 - Difficulty Finding Employment
While many jobs today offer remote work options, your partner may need to seek temporary employment depending on their job situation during your assignment. The good news is that finding temporary work can be relatively easy with companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. Additionally, starting a home-based business, such as selling crafts on Etsy or offering web design services, can be an excellent way to generate income while you’re on the road.
2 - Partner Loneliness
If venturing to assignments alone, travelers may experience loneliness during their contracts while away from their family and friends. Same thing can occur to your partner, especially if in a new city. To help curb feelings of loneliness, encourage your partner to engage in hobbies and activities they enjoy outside of work. Hobbies such as reading, writing, painting, cooking, and hiking can be great options. They can also browse Facebook to find local events that interest them, which can help them meet new people. Additionally, make sure to spend quality time together on your days off. For more ways to combat loneliness, check out our blog here!
Traveling With Your Children
Pros:
1 - Increased Learning Opportunities
One of the top benefits of traveling to new places with your children is the opportunity for them to learn, explore, and discover. Each new location they experience will expose them to different cuisines, cultures, and traditions that will help shape them into more adaptable adults who embrace diversity. As an added bonus, during your days off you can visit historic sites, museums, zoos, aquariums, or other significant landmarks to further enhance their education. Bringing your kids along on assignments will widen their perspectives, teach them adaptability, and increase their capacity for empathy and cultural sensitivity.
2 - Quality Family Time
Traveling with your children offers the valuable opportunity to spend quality time together as a family. Research shows that spending time together can boost your child's self-esteem, strengthen family bonds, foster positive behavior, and encourage effective communication, all of which can contribute to better academic performance. Additionally, having your children travel with you can reduce feelings of separation and loneliness, which is beneficial for their emotional and mental development.
3 - Increased Adaptability
Similar to traveling along or with your partner, traveling with your children to new places will help expose them to different religions, languages, and cultures. This exposure helps develop their adaptability, an important skill that will help them build confidence and set them up to face decisions and experiences later in life.
Cons:
1 - Schooling
Changing schools can be challenging for any child. Meeting new teachers, making new friends, and learning the layout of a new school can be overwhelming for them. Some parents choose to travel only during summer vacation and take on a permanent job during the school year to minimize disruptions to their children's education. However, if you want to travel during the school year without frequently changing schools, consider homeschooling or remote learning. Homeschooling has gained popularity among families since the COVID pandemic and offers a flexible education tailored to your child's needs. Check out benefits to homeschooling here.
2 - Leaving Friends and Family Behind
Building lasting relationships is a vital part of your child’s growth and development, so it’s important to consider their social life. Before traveling, it is best to prepare your children for the upcoming change by discussing what the move will be like and what challenges they may face. Encourage them to think of ways to keep in touch with their current friends and family, such as writing letters or sending postcards.
Lastly, involving your child in the moving process can help give them a sense of control over the situation and generate excitement about the new location. For instance, you can ask them to pack their own boxes or how they would like their new room to be arranged. You can also research the new city together and ask them what they would like to do once you arrive at your new home.
Additional Things to Consider When Traveling with Your Family
1 – Transportation
Traveling with your family, even for vacation, can be a stressful experience. Before applying for an assignment to bring your family with, be sure to research transportation methods that are both financially and realistically practical for your situation. Some options for transportation include:
- Driving your own family car
- Renting a vehicle
- Traveling by RV
- Taking a train
- Booking a flight
Whichever method you choose, planning ahead is essential to make the trip as seamless as possible. To help keep your kids entertained during the journey, consider creating a plan. For example, if you have a long car ride ahead, plan a few tourist stops along the way. This will not only allow you to stretch your legs but also give you a chance to see something new. You could also bring along movies, video games, books, or crafts to help make the car ride go by faster.
2 – Housing
As mentioned earlier, as a travel healthcare professional, your agency will provide you with a stipend to help cover the costs of food, transportation, and housing. However, keep in mind that most stipends are typically designed for a single person, a couple, or possibly a single parent with one or two children. We recommend discussing your travel housing options with your recruiter to get a clear understanding of the stipends your agency offers.
When searching for housing, consider the following questions to help you find the best place for your needs:
- How many bedrooms do you need?
- How much space do you require for yourself and your family?
- Do you need pet-friendly housing?
- Do you prefer a place that is already fully furnished?
- What type of housing do you prefer? Apartment, townhome, condo, house, etc.?
As mentioned earlier, another housing option is traveling via an RV. This can not only accommodate you and your family but also help you save money on housing and travel expenses. While the RV lifestyle may not suit everyone, if you plan to take on multiple assignments, it could be a worthwhile investment for a smoother transition between contracts.
3 – Schooling, Childcare, and Activities
When it comes to schooling, it's important to determine what works best for you and your children. Whether you choose to enroll them in a local school, homeschool, or engage in remote learning, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you plan to travel with your children, consider traveling to new cities during summer vacation to avoid the need for changing schools. In addition to the challenges of switching schools, finding childcare and babysitters in a new location can be difficult. Care.com is a great site for finding local caregivers, as some daycare centers may be at full capacity and have waiting lists. Lastly, we recommend researching your destination city before moving to discover activities you and your family can enjoy during your time off. Look for amenities such as libraries, museums, community pools, playgrounds, sports facilities, and local events to enhance your family's experience.
Ready to Take Your Family on the Road?
Whether your family dreams of hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, or exploring vibrant cityscapes, we can help you find the perfect assignment to make it happen! Apply today with TotalMed and begin your next adventure!
