Travel & booking
Get there, sleep well, see something
Where to search for the four things every contract needs — a bed, a seat, a car, and one good day off. Run the numbers before accepting agency housing; booking it yourself usually wins.
Stays
Thirteen weeks is a monthly rate, not a nightly one.
Search the whole market
Filter for kitchenette, free parking, and free cancellation — in that order. Sort by monthly total, not per night.
Read the housing guideWeekly-rate chains
Full kitchen, laundry on site, and loyalty points that stack across contracts. Ask about a healthcare rate.
Mid-term listings
Message hosts directly about a thirteen-week block. Many discount hard rather than sit empty.
Do the math first. Take the housing stipend, subtract rent, utilities, parking and internet. If agency-provided housing beats that number, take it — but you rarely get the stipend back if you change your mind mid-contract.
Flights
Two bags in, one flexible fare out.
Book the flexible fare
Start dates move. A fare you can change for free is worth the premium on a first contract.
Pick one airline and stay
Four contracts a year is enough flying to earn status. Free bags and seat choice pay for themselves.
Check the bag policy, not the fare
A cheap ticket plus two checked bags is rarely cheap. Compare the all-in number.
Compare fares
Search flights across airlines
One search, every carrier, with the bag fees and change rules laid out side by side.
What goes in your carry-onRental cars
The line item that quietly eats a stipend.
Ask for the monthly rate
Thirty-day rentals often price below three weekly bookings. Always quote both.
Skip the airport counter
Neighborhood branches dodge airport concession fees. A rideshare there usually still wins.
Check your card's coverage
Many cards include collision damage on rentals. Declining the counter waiver can save hundreds.
Days off
Four days between blocks is a real trip.
Before the flight: bags that survive thirteen weeks
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