Being a healthcare traveler means balancing a hectic schedule, and because they have to pack light, a traveler’s best friend becomes their phone.
Although many apps out there strive to simplify daily tasks, with so many choices, it can be hard to choose. So, we’ve compiled and categorized a few that new and experienced travelers alike will appreciate having in their back pockets.
Travel Assignment Prep
Packpoint
Packpoint is a new healthcare traveler’s best friend. Regardless of if you’re a chronic over or under-packer (or a messy mix of the two), the app ensures never forgetting needed items again.
PackPoint organizes packing necessities based on things like:
- Gender
- Length of assignment
- Weather
- Expected activities
The app’s premium version also allows you to customize your packing list to have it on hand for repeat use.
BarkHappy
BarkHappy has over 20,000 dog-friendly places nationwide for travelers looking to bring furry friends along on their assignments.
The BarkHappy app helps dog owners:
- Discover new friends
- Attend or host dog-friendly events
- Book pet-friendly hotels, Airbnbs, and other housing
- Find pet-friendly locations in the city
- Create custom lost and found alerts when needed
Momondo
While it’ll never be Hipmunk (RIP), Momondo is another metasearch app that allows you to take care of booking flights quickly. Momondo delivers fares from scores of airlines and competitor travel sites that can be sorted into three categories: “cheapest,” “best,” and “quickest.” Each flight is also scored from one to ten based on several criteria, including quality.
Furnished Finder
One of the most daunting tasks for new healthcare travelers is knowing where to start finding short-term housing. Furnished Finder is the premier no-booking-fee housing marketplace for short-term rentals. Travelers can access over 110,000 properties and chat with landlords directly through the app, making it a great resource to have on hand when looking for housing on your own.
Practical Pals
CamScanner
Travelers need to have a lot of documentation handy. For those looking for a cloud solution, CamScanner uses a user’s smartphone camera to convert a physical document into a digital one. Conveniently select the file format you want to scan, such as PDF, JPG, or TXT. Additionally, the app can be set to sync with all the major cloud storage services cited above. This way, when you scan a document, it can automatically be saved to the cloud service of your choice. The app also has optimization features so you can improve the quality and clarity of your scans. The app has many other features, including free and premium versions. This app also pairs nicely with DocuSign when you need signatures fast.
Mint
Travel nurses have the benefit of higher and more flexible payment options. However, this means budgeting can be tricky. Mint helps travelers manage the following:
- Budget
- Bills
- Accounts
- Credit cards
- Investments
It’s the perfect accomplice to manage an ever-evolving budget as you move from one assignment location to the next. Mint also helps monitor credit goals and sends payment reminders.
Transportation
Moovit
Anyone who’s used a city train or bus timetable app knows how frustrating they can be. That said, Moovit is probably the best we’ve seen on the market when it comes to solving the stressors that come with relying on public transit. The app lets you review public transportation options and monitor real-time arrivals in 60 major US cities. So, this is an excellent choice if you’re looking to simplify the cheapest possible transportation option.
Spot Hero
This one is self-explanatory but noteworthy, nonetheless. Parking is a headache almost everywhere you go, especially when there are regulations you might need to be aware of. Spot Hero finds the cheapest and most convenient parking in thousands of lots and garages nationwide. The app also lets you reserve hourly, monthly, airport, and event parking.
Gasbuddy
For travelers who drive to, from, and during their assignments, GasBuddy helps you find cheap gas in real time based on your location. You can also search for cheap gas by city, zip, or postal code for days off or when planning trips in advance.
Passport America
If you’re interested in or are an avid RV traveler, Passport America is a discount camping club that may be worth looking into. However, Passport America quickly locates over 1,200+ participating campgrounds and RV parks, giving you one less thing to think about when you hit the road. The app is free, although the annual membership cost is $44.
AAA
Also for travelers who drive, the AAA app provides peace of mind for safety and security on the road.
AAA offers roadside assistance and perks like:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Towing
- Theft protection
- Emergency medical referral
- Auto services
- Gas rewards
- Restaurant discounts
- Hotel discounts
- Entertainment and theme park discounts
- Rental car discounts
Free Time Fun
MeetUp
Being a healthcare traveler can get lonely. MeetUp is an app to soothe that ache, helping nurses make new meaningful connections on the go. Members can create and join groups, organize events, RSVP, and view a list of all attending each meetup. There are over 330,000 groups to explore and plenty of opportunities to make connections wherever you may be.
AllTrails
Whether you like to run, hike, bike, or chase waterfalls, AllTrails is the perfect app for travel nurses looking to explore. This is especially helpful when you’re not familiar with the area. AllTrails houses over 300,000+ hand-curated trail maps and provides millions of reviews and photos from active users.
HappyCow
HappyCow helps vegetarian and vegan travelers find restaurants that fit their dietary needs. Instead of endlessly scrolling through menus, use the Happy Cow app to find a vegan restaurant near you. With more than 7,300 listings in 180+ countries, this app is bound to help you find the best spots in any location.
Localuer
Although this app is sadly not on Android (yet), the website is still accessible to non-ifolk. Localuer lets you explore new cities like a local. Find the best restaurants, coffee shops, lunch spots, recreational activities, and more through genuine recommendations from individuals who live there.
Don’t worry, be ‘appy
These apps scratch the surface of making travelers’ lives a bit easier to navigate. Similarly, this is why Blu Med threw our hat into the ring of the industry. We’re here to help the staffing side go seamlessly in any way we can.
We know there are copious choices available when it comes to agencies, and choosing one that suits your needs can be overwhelming. Let us find the perfect placement to help nourish growth not just professionally but personally as well.
Get started on your travel nursing career with Blu Medstaff today!
