If you're a new grad considering travel therapy, Host Healthcare should be your first call. I was terrified starting out — didn't understand tax homes, stipends, GSA rates, any of it. My recruiter spent two full hours on my first call just educating me. She wasn't trying to sell me anything; she was genuinely trying to make sure I understood what I was getting into. That level of care carried through my entire first contract. Day-one insurance was huge — I had a gap between school coverage and starting work and I couldn't have afforded a lapse.

Host was my first and second contract agency. Both experiences were excellent. The housing team helped me find an apartment-style rental near my first facility when I had no idea how to approach housing as a traveler. They walked me through the stipend math, helped me decide between taking stipends or using their corporate housing, and let me make the call without pressure. The benefits package is genuinely comprehensive — health, dental, vision, all day one. Pay isn't top of market but it's solid for where I was in my career.

School SLP first contract. Host placed me in a great district and my recruiter actually understood school SLP — caseload size expectations, IEP timeline pressures, the difference between school year and extended year placements. That understanding isn't common. I called her one week in when I felt overwhelmed with the caseload and she talked me through it and offered to contact the school's therapy coordinator on my behalf. That call didn't happen with the two other agencies I'd interviewed with. Five stars, no hesitation.

I started with Host for my first two contracts and they were wonderful. Now on my third year and still use them occasionally when they have something I want. The pay has never been the reason to stay — I'll be honest, you can find higher packages elsewhere once you know what you're doing. But the recruiter quality and support is genuinely exceptional. My current recruiter has been with me for a year and a half and still picks up on the first ring. For stability and support, Host is hard to beat.

The onboarding process with Host was the smoothest I've seen anyone describe. Every form, every compliance doc, every credential submission was tracked in their portal with clear deadlines. My recruiter sent me a weekly update email the first month just checking in. I never had to chase anyone down. IRF placement in Seattle was exactly what I asked for. One thing: the pay was about $180/week less than what a friend got for a similar position through a smaller agency. For a first contract where I needed support more than top dollar, that tradeoff was right for me.

Four stars for a simple reason: I've outgrown what Host offers. They were perfect for my first three contracts — great support, excellent onboarding, responsive team. But five years in, I know what I'm doing and I need the highest possible pay, not hand-holding. Host's packages aren't competitive at the top end. I tried negotiating aggressively on my last contract with them and hit a ceiling well below what smaller agencies offered for the same role. I still recommend them to every new traveler I meet. Just know when to graduate.

Host is genuinely one of the better agencies I've worked with for SLP placements. They consistently have SNF positions and understand the CF supervision requirements for new grads, which most agencies stumble on. My recruiter was fantastic for my first year. Going into year two I did feel the pay creeping behind competitors. I stayed because the relationship was good and the benefits are strong, but I've started working with a second agency on the side to compare packages. Four stars — excellent for new and early-career travelers.

As a first-year COTA traveler I was nervous about working with a big agency and feeling like a number. Host surprised me completely. My recruiter remembered details from our very first conversation two months later when we were finalizing my contract. She advocated for me when the facility was slow on credentialing and the start date was in jeopardy. She personally called the facility coordinator. That doesn't happen everywhere. Benefits kicked in day one which was critical for me.

I did my first two outpatient PT contracts with Host and they were excellent experiences. Recruiter was knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in whether the clinical environment was a good fit for me — not just whether the seat was filled. The main thing that pushed me to diversify was pay. Outpatient PT packages vary a lot and after year two I realized I was leaving meaningful money on the table. Host is worth 4 stars — just have a second agency in your back pocket once you're established.

New grad OT here. Host made travel therapy feel possible when I was completely overwhelmed by the learning curve. They have a new traveler guide that explains everything from tax homes to housing searches to what to ask before accepting a contract. My recruiter walked me through it section by section on our first call. I've talked to five other new grad travelers since starting with Host and recommended them to all five. The support infrastructure for new travelers is genuinely the best I've encountered.