Vacation Inspiration
Where To Go on Vacation Based on Your Healthcare Department
From ER adrenaline-chasers to hospice heroes, I've matched every hospital role to its perfect escape — volcanic views in Japan, all-inclusives in Playa del Carmen, or pure silence in the Florida Keys. Because you don't just deserve a vacation. You deserve the right one.
May 21, 2026
No matter your role, if you work in a hospital or healthcare facility, you're in a high-stress environment dodging grenades daily. As a full-time nurse and lifelong traveler, I know better than most how badly you deserve a break.
These are the best vacations for healthcare workers—hardworking people who deserve a getaway made easy.
A lot of roles go into keeping a hospital running, so to cover all the bases, I've broken this down into the best vacations for healthcare workers by department — basically, a hospital worker's travel guide tailored to your specific kind of exhaustion. Some recommendations are budget-friendly, some affordable luxury, and others luxury or ultra-luxury. Many of the higher-end hotels I recommend can enter the lower price ranges during shoulder seasons, so if you see a hotel you like, don't write it off — an advisor can help find wiggle room. If you want to adapt any of these to fit your budget or your vision, connect with me below.
I help healthcare professionals, especially coworkers, beat nurse burnout and take easy breaks so they can come back to their life-saving work at full strength. If one of these destinations or properties catches your eye, connect with me for more information about the property, recommendations of what to explore in that area, and help building out your travel plans. Whether you want to do the whole thing yourself or hand off the responsibility of an itinerary completely, I'm here to tailor these travel experiences to you.
Pricing guide:
$: $100-$300 per night
$$: $300-$600 per night
$$$: $800+ per night
Emergency Room:
If you work in the Emergency Room — in any role — you operate on adrenaline and lightning-quick decisions. I'd send you to an adventure-packed destination that matches your fast pace while offering real opportunities to step away and slow down.
All of these stays and destinations have plenty to do onsite and are near places to seek adventure. No matter the climate, adventure is right outside your door — but this time, expect the kind of chaos you'll actually enjoy. Zipline over the lush jungle canopy, hike in national parks, snorkel or scuba dive along coral reefs, parasail from a private beach, or wander a Japanese street market; you won't have to look far at any of these destinations. Especially not with your advisor (hello!) just a text away.
Where I'd Send You Domestically
- $ - Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona | Canopy by Hilton
- $$ - Phoenix, Arizona | Royal Palms Resort & Spa
- $$$ - Clearwater Beach, Florida | Opal Sol
Where I'd Send You Internationally
- $$ - Guanacaste, Costa Rica | Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin
- $$$ - Okinawa, Japan | Halekulani Okinawa
Intensive Care Unit
If you work in Intensive Care, you spend your days caring for patients, untangling lines from the ER nurse, and helping families make the best decisions possible — all while managing an intensely technical role. As your advisor, I'd send you somewhere laid-back, somewhere you can find your own pace. Pair a highly walkable destination with pre-booked tours, activities, and excursions, and you'll be able to take a true break the moment you arrive. The ICU demands so much mental bandwidth that the last thing you need is a vacation that requires the same decision-making energy — that's where I come in.
Enjoy relaxation mixed with adventure and energy near all these locations. Whether you choose to read a book on the private beach or try white water rafting in Costa Rica, you'll be spoiled for choice in these tranquil yet energetic destinations. These destinations respect your need for space and rest — but don't worry, energizing social scenes and adrenaline-spiking fun are never far away.
Where I'd Send You Internationally
- $ - Los Cabos, Mexico | Hyatt Ziva (all inclusive)
- $$ - Playa del Carmen, Mexico | Hotel Xcaret (all inclusive)
- $$$ - Costa Rica | Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
Where to Vacation Domestically
- $$ - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina | Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front Resort
- $$$ - Miami, Florida | Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club
Medical Surgical Unit
If you work in a medical surgical unit, bless your soul. Your work world is often chaos — don't bother trying to plan your shift before you arrive. Let me send you on an organized getaway. We can work out a loose shell of your trip, and if you want to leave it at that we will. Or we can build out the itinerary completely, so you won't have to make any decisions other than what to eat when you're away.
Given your tenacity and stamina, I'd send you someplace with a flexible, luxurious spa, plenty of onsite or nearby activities, and excellent nightlife. centrally located, with day-trip opportunities for when you want to explore. If you have more time to travel, we can coordinate for a multi-city trip, letting me do the detail work so a meticulously planned voyage feels nothing but relaxing to you.
Where I'd Send You Domestically
- $$ - Carlsbad, California | Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club, and Spa
- $$$ - Miami Beach, Florida | Faena Hotel Miami Beach
Where I'd Send You Internationally
- $ - The Greek Isles | Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
- $$ - Mexican Riviera | Virgin Voyages Cruises
- $$$ - South America Cruise | Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Hospice and Palliative Care
In hospice and palliative care, you bring great comfort to patients and families through one of life's most difficult passages. Sometimes not everyone agrees the family is following the right path, and you hold that tension alongside your expertise every single day. That's a lot to carry.
For your vacation, I want to send you someplace that is relaxing and peaceful with no schedule at all. Each day can be spent relaxing and recharging—but should you choose, you'll be spoiled with options for things to do nearby. Whether you're sunbathing in Hawaii or seeking an elevated city escape above the crowds, these destinations offer oases of calm within easy reach of prominent cities, day trips, and nightlife. The goal here is to give you everything you want, all within walking distance, so that you can fully clock out of work mode the moment you arrive. When paired with expert advising and travel planning, the hardest thing you'll have to do is request the PTO.
Where I'd Send You Domestically:
$$ - Honolulu, Hawaii | Ka Lāʻi Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
$$$ - Little Torch Key, Florida Keys | Little Palm Island Resort
Where I'd Send You Internationally
$$ - Oranjestad, Aruba | Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
$$$ - Zurich, Switzerland | Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich
Labor and Delivery
If you work in labor and delivery, you care for an entire family. There's a plan — but things don't always follow it. You're constantly scanning for bumps in the road and signs of danger, always one step ahead. I want to send you someplace effortlessly adventurous, with delicious food, amazing culture, and friendly, fun people.
These destinations offer centrally located escapes within cultural hubs, popular beach scenes, and lush jungles, where you'll have your choice of vibe: intimate retreat style escapes with hidden alcoves, sprawling countryside, and lush rooms, or a social butterfly's dream, with beach clubs, nightlife, and trips into the city proper for luxury shopping, fine dining, and cultural tours. No matter what style you choose, this is meant to be a vacation in which you don't have to care for anything but your own wellbeing. As a no-fee travel advisor, I'm here to help make that happen, with as much or as little influence over the itinerary as you want.
Where I'd Send You Domestically:
$$ - Nashville, Tennessee | Conrad Nashville
$$ - Destin, Florida | The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa
Where I'd Send You Internationally
$ - Dublin, Ireland | Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin
$$ - Tour of the Mediterranean | Oceania Cruises
$$$ - La Fortuna, Costa Rica | Nayara Springs (adults only)
The Best Vacations for Healthcare Workers: Because Every Healthcare Professional Deserves a Getaway
No matter your role — surgeon, pediatrician, ICU nurse, or anyone carrying the weight of a healthcare career — you deserve a break that truly allows you to rest.
As an ER nurse who's clocked countless 12-hour shifts, I understand the unique exhaustion you carry — the kind that doesn't lift after a weekend. I've sat in that break room, staring at the schedule, wondering when I'd actually get to breathe. I'm here to tailor your experience and remove every bit of friction from the planning process. Why not let someone who truly gets it arrange it all for you? Whether it's relaxation or adventure you seek, by the mountains, the forests, or the sea, I can help you navigate the journey.
So, put plainly, what are the best vacations for nurses dealing with burnout? You'll find repeat destinations like Hawaii, Aruba, and Costa Rica consistently rank among the top choices — but the right answer really depends on your department, your pace, and what kind of reset you actually need.
What department do you work in? Let's connect.
Plan your next journey with
Nicole SeversonNicole Severson is a fully licensed travel advisor with LuxRally Travel, a Forbes Travel Guide Endorsed agency, specializing in curating exceptional travel experiences for discerning clients.
Related Stories
I Visited Dracula's Castle in Transylvania, Romania — and It's Lesser Known, Better Neighbor
I grew up watching Dracula movies on Saturday-night TV — so booking a day trip from Bucharest to Bran Castle felt like a childhood dream come true. Transylvania delivers: Gothic towers, stone corridors, and castles so eerily atmospheric they don't need the legend to impress.
By Nicole Severson
Unconventional Conventions and How I Can Help
A travel advisor can transform your next work trip or convention into an unforgettable getaway—often saving you money or upgrading your experience beyond what conference booking links offer.
By Nicole Severson
It Not About Remembering: Why Travel Matters During Early Childhood
Forget whether they'll remember it — that's the wrong question. Research suggests the value of early travel lives in the brain connections being built in real time, not the memories stored later. Here's what that means for how you plan family travel.
By Alexis Dunfee
Four Types of Solo Trips to Take When You're Done Waiting on Someone Else
After over a decade of waiting on others, I decided to see the world for myself, alone. Here are four types of solo trips, personally tested by a luxury travel advisor — from group expeditions to fully private tours.
By Shebna Garcon
An Argument for Luxury Slow Travel: Instagram is Ruining Travel for Everyone
Perfectly curated moments. Perfectly cropped. Perfectly hollow. Instagram has turned travel into performance — and the destinations, the bystanders, and the travelers themselves are all paying the price.
By Jennifer Jilot
Welcome to Country: A Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia
Indigenous heritage is not another experience to add to a luxury Australian itinerary. It is the lens through which the entire country is best understood. A framework for designing journeys that create understanding rather than consumption.
By Alisha Myers