Finding housing as a travel nurse is one of those things that makes me shudder. Every time I sign a new contract, in a new city, the most daunting thought to me is, “Where am I going to live?”. After coming across Extended Stay America, finding housing as a travel nurse just got easier and less intimidating. This is everything you need to know about using Extended Stay America if you’re a travel nurse!
If you’re a travel nurse looking for housing, don’t miss:
What is Extended Stay America?
Established in the 1990s, Extended Stay America (ESA) emerged as a player in the hospitality industry, introducing the concept of extended stay accommodations. The person behind ESA envisioned a hotel experience that mirrored the comfort of home, complete with the flexibility for guests to cook their own meals and enjoy a more autonomous living space.
Since its creation, the brand has undergone steady growth, strategically expanding its presence across various locations in the United States and Canada. ESA distinguishes itself by offering a range of accommodations designed to cater to guests staying for varying durations, whether it be a single night or an extended period. Providing a reliable and consistent experience, ESA has positioned itself as a go-to option for travelers seeking a temporary residence that combines the comforts of home with the amenities of a hotel. As a result, Extended Stay America stands as a practical choice for travel nurses in search of dependable housing accommodations.
There are three different Extended Stay America brands, which I go into detail about below.
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Extended Stay America Premier Suites
Extended Stay America Premier Suites is an elevated experience at new or newly renovated hotels. Every room features fully-equipped kitchens, signature bedding, free breakfast, larger TVs, and added storage space. There is on-site laundry and pet-friendly rooms available.
Extended Stay America Suites
Extended Stay America Suites is the largest brand of hotels with nearly 650 locations across the U.S. All hotels feature spacious, extended stay suites with fully equipped kitchens, free wi-fi, free breakfast, and premium cable. There is on-site laundry and pet-friendly rooms available.
Extended Stay America Select Suites
Extended Stay America Select Suites is the newest hotel in the Extended Stay America family. This particular hotel is great for guests looking to stay 30+ nights with discounted prices for longer stays. Plus, when you choose this hotel, there isn’t a security deposit required or a binding lease. Extended Stay America Select Suites feature essential amenities like spacious, apartment-like suites, full kitchens, and free wi-fi. There is on-site laundry and pet-friendly rooms available.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT EXTENDED STAY AMERICA HERE!
Where Can I Find Extended Stay America?
There are over 700 Extended Stays throughout Canada and the United States. As of 2023, you can find Extended Stay America in the following 46 states…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California (read about being a travel nurse in Santa Barbara here and a travel nurse in San Francisco here)
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois (read about being a travel nurse in Chicago here)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Lousiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (read about being a travel nurse in Boston here)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska (read about being a travel nurse in Omaha here)
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota (read about being a travel nurse in Fargo here)
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas (read about being a travel nurse in Austin here)
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington (read about being a travel nurse in Seattle here)
- Wisconsin
What to Expect When Staying at Extended Stay America
When you stay at Extended Stay America, not only can you expect great customer service at each hotel, but you can also expect consistency across each hotel brand. While amenities vary hotel to hotel, below you’ll find some of the most common amenities offered at ESA; but know, this is not an exhaustive list!
Also, healthcare workers have all utilities (cable, electric, water, and internet) included in price of stay.
Gym Access
Some of the ESA hotels have fitness centers in their hotels and others partner with gyms outside of the hotel. If the hotel you’re staying at does not have a fitness center, make sure to ask if they run any deals with nearby gyms!
Kitchen Access
Every room in the Extended Stay America hotel chain has a built-in, fully-furnished kitchen. You can expect to have a stovetop, microwave, and full-size refrigerator. Plus, you can ask for cookware when you move in such as pots and pans, toaster, silverware, spatulas, plates, bowls, cups, dish drying rack, dishcloths, coffee maker, colander, and a cutting board. Depending on how often you cook, you might need to bring more kitchen utilities with you, but this is a great start!
Laundry
Every Extended Stay America has on-site laundry rooms that are open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. These machines are coin operated so make sure to plan ahead if you’re staying at ESA.
Pets
Up to two pets are allowed in each suite at an extra charge (service animals are free of charge). However, pets can’t be longer or taller than 36 inches. If you have more than two pets or your pet doesn’t meet the size requirement, you can call the manger of the hotel and request an exception.
Receiving Mail/Packages
One of the great things about Extended Stay America is that you don’t have to stress out about mail/package delivery because the front desk accepts mail. I’ve lived in rentals where I wasn’t even allowed to use the mailbox, so having the ability for your mail to be dropped off at the front desk of the hotel and handed over to an employee is a huge relief. All you need is identification to claim your package.
Rooms
When booking a room, you have the option to choose between a king suite (for two people), queen suite (for two people), or double double suite (for four people). No matter what size you choose, every room is similar with a bathroom, kitchen, bed, seating area, and storage.
WiFi
Every Extended Stay America is equipped with free wifi throughout guest rooms and throughout the hotel. There’s also an option to purchase enhanced wifi should you need it.
Perks for Using Extended Stay America
One of my favorite perks when staying at Extended Stay America is the ability to save money based on the amount of nights you book. Because as travel nurses, you’re bound to be staying up to 13+ weeks, so you might as well get a discount while doing so! Each hotel offers a 20% discount when you book 7+ nights, a 30% discount when you book 14+ nights, and a 45% discount when you book 30+ nights. Discounts will automatically be applied at checkout when you input your dates.
More perks include, but are not limited to, savings on dining, rental cars, salons, shopping, and entertainment when you sign up for the extended perks loyalty program.
If you need more guidance on becoming a travel nurse, make sure to check out The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle where you’ll get 60+ pages of travel nurse information including – how to make sense of your contract, how to negotiate pay, & more – delivered straight to your inbox!
What if My Contract Gets Cancelled and I don’t Need Housing Anymore?
One of the hardest things about travel nursing is having your contract cancelled and thus needing to back out of your housing contract. Luckily, with Extended Stay America you do have some flexibility when it comes to contract cancellation.
Per their website, the cancellation policy is as follows: “Reservations must be cancelled by 6 p.m. local hotel time on the day of arrival, or the first night’s stay (at quoted rate plus tax) will be charged as a No Show Fee to the credit card holding the reservation. Advanced Purchase (AP) reservations: Guests who cancel more than 24 hours after their original time of booking, or fail to show, will forfeit their nonrefundable advance prepayment equal to the total cost of the reservation (including tax). Extended Plus Program (EPP) reservations: Guests who cancel more than 24 hours after their original time of booking, or fail to show, will forfeit their nonrefundable deposit equal to 3 nights’ room and tax.”
Why Should Travel Nurses Use Extended Stay America?
Aside from the comfort of knowing that you’re moving into a hotel where there will be a front-desk, other people around, and you don’t have to worry about dealing with a landlord or roommates you’ve never met, there are many reasons travel nurses should stay in an Extended Stay America…
- You know what to expect
- Easy to find a hotel with over 700 hotels across the US
- Discounted prices for longer stays
- All utilities included in stay
- Mail/package drop-off at front desk
- & more!
Don’t miss:
Travel Nurse Essentials
FOR HOUSING
- VRBO
- Extended Stay America
- Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay
FOR RECRUITERS
- Fill out this form to be matched with my go-to travel nurse recruiter
FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- To book a flight, I recommend this booking platform or Skyscanner to compare options
- If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
FOR WORK
TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”
- For tours I recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Take Walks, & Devour Tours (available in select cities)
For more housing options, don’t miss…
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
