How We Took a 3-Week Honeymoon as Travel Physical Therapists

Taking a three-week honeymoon is almost impossible in a traditional healthcare job. Most employers allow one or two weeks at most, and anything longer is usually not feasible. Travel physical therapy completely changes the game. Between assignments, you aren’t tied to any employer or schedule. You can wait as long as you want before starting your next assignment or even settle into a permanent role (we hope not...), giving you the freedom to take trips as long as you like. We took advantage of the flexibility of travel PT and spent three incredible weeks honeymooning in the Caribbean on the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, near Aruba!

Planning Ahead

The key to our honeymoon was planning months in advance and budgeting. We locked in our next travel PT assignment before the trip, giving us peace of mind that we would have work later on in a contract we were looking forward to. We took our honeymoon during the month of December, and our next travel PT contract starts tomorrow (end of January for those reading later). We utilized strategic budgeting to make the three weeks possible without stress. Maintaining an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses without touching it, and using a separate cash reserve to cash-flow the trip, allowed us to fully enjoy our time without worrying about money.

While we planned to be mindful of spending, we didn’t hold back on experiences that mattered most. We carefully balanced frugal choices, like cooking some meals, shopping around for a rental car, and booking Airbnbs instead of hotels, with splurges on unique adventures like scuba diving, a few fancy dinners, and using points to cover our flights while upgrading to first class on the way to Curaçao. We even had a private pool in Curaçao to ourselves! This approach allowed us to fully enjoy our honeymoon while making our financial resources last.

Honeymoon adventures

Our trip was full of adventure, excitement, and a few terrifying moments. Deciding what was the scariest was nearly impossible and up for debate. Was it riding a tiny single-engine plane between islands? Cliff jumping from 45 feet high? Learning scuba diving for the first time? Or hiking the tallest mountain on the island? Each day brought something new and thrilling.

We also explored three different national parks, taking in the incredible landscapes, wildlife (goats, flamingos, iguanas, and donkeys were common), and beaches. Along the way, we tried unique local experiences like tasting a lionfish burger, and got up close with sea turtles and eels while scuba diving. Some days were more relaxed, soaking in the sun and local culture, while others were more planned activities that pushed our limits and created memories we’ll never forget.

Why Travel Physical Therapy Makes Trips Like This Possible

For travel physical therapists, you should take advantage of the flexibility you have now because these trips are very realistic but likely the opportunities won't last forever. The flexibility between assignments allows you to take time off without worrying about losing your job or PTO (which would be the case at a permanent position). Thoughtful planning and budgeting make it realistic, and having your next assignment locked in ensures your travel PT career continues smoothly after your time off.

We are very fortunate to be able to take a three-week break into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure filled with breathtaking views, adrenaline-filled activities, and memories we’ll treasure forever. Want to see the credit cards we use to score tons of free travel? Check them out here: Travel Credit Cards.