"This Will Do" vs. "Only This Will Do": The Two-Brain Theory of How I Travel

A confession from someone who once celebrated a $89/night hotel room like they'd won the lottery

There are two versions of me when I travel. They share the same carry-on, the same loyalty points app, and the same slightly irrational opinion about hotel pillows. But they are, philosophically speaking, completely different people.

Let me introduce them.

🧳 Traveller #1: Business Brain

Business Brain boards the plane or gets in her vehicle with a spreadsheet open or in my head. She is thinking about margin. She is thinking about revenue vs. Expenses. She is thinking about the fact that a hotel room is, at its core, a place to recharge a human body so that human body can go do the work tomorrow. If you know my business as an Equine Osteopath, you know I need to recharge mind and body.

Her criteria for accommodation are simple:

• Is the bed horizontal? ✅

• Is there WiFi that won't make me age visibly? ✅

• Can I expense this without my accountant giving me the look? ✅

"This will do." And she means it as a compliment.

Business Brain is not being cheap. She is being strategic. Every dollar saved on a work trip is a dollar that stays in the business — or better yet, gets reinvested in the things that matter. Like, say, a stunning vacation rental with a hot tub and a cheese board waiting on the counter. Boutique hotel in a vineyard…. Yes Please!!

 The thing nobody tells you about the "this will do" mindset: sometimes it accidentally delivers.

Case in point — a recent work trip to Kelowna. I booked a room at the Hotel & Conference

Centre with zero expectations and approximately a few hours to enjoy it. What I found was a well-appointed room, a great rate, and — I cannot stress this enough — a magnificent bed. The kind of bed that makes you briefly reconsider your entire schedule and wonder if "working from duvet" is a legitimate business strategy.

I checked out feeling genuinely a little sad. Not in a dramatic way. More in a "you were a pleasant surprise and I wasn't ready for this, goodbye" kind of way.

That's the magic of low expectations done right.

And then there are the Airbnbs. Oh, the Airbnbs. Particularly in the Chilliwack area, where I have stumbled onto some genuinely charming little finds — cozy, characterful, and priced in a way that makes Business Brain do a small victory dance. If you ever need a recommendation, ask me. Seriously. I have opinions.

✨ Traveller #2: Pleasure Brain

Pleasure Brain is a different creature entirely.

She has a Pinterest board. She has read the reviews — all of them, including the unhinged ones from people who docked two stars because the throw pillows were "too decorative." She has a vision.This is not about a place to sleep. This is about an experience. This is the payoff. This is the whole point.

When I travel for pleasure — whether it's a family trip, a solo reset, or a long-overdue adventure with the people I love — I shift completely into "Only This Will Do" mode. I want the view. I want the locally sourced breakfast. I want to walk into that room and feel something. I want my nervous system to exhale.

A truth I've learned after years of running a business: the hustle only means something if you actually enjoy the harvest. The margin I protected on my work trips? That's the romantic weekend at the vineyard. That's the cabin by the lake. That's the resort where nobody asks me for anything and I don't apologize for ordering dessert.

You work hard. You deserve a destination, not just a location.

The Philosophy (Yes, There Is One)

The two-brain approach isn't about being inconsistent. It's about being intentional.

When I work, I protect my resources fiercely — time, money, energy — so that when I play, I can be fully present without guilt. I'm not splurging irresponsibly. I'm investing in restoration.

And honestly? Having Business Brain has made me a better travel advisor, too. I know the difference between a room that photographs beautifully and a room that actually functions. I know which amenities matter and which ones are just pretty on a website. I know when "boutique" means charming and when it means the elevator has opinions.

Want to Travel Smarter — In Both Modes?

Whether you're trying to cut your business travel costs without sleeping on sadness or planning the trip that finally makes you feel like yourself again — I can help with that.

I've slept in the "this will do" rooms so you don't have to guess which ones are secretly great. And I've researched the "only this will do" experiences with the same rigour I bring to everything else.

Let's talk. Because good travel — like good business — is all about knowing what you actually need and refusing to settle for anything less.

(But also knowing when $89 and a great pillow is genuinely all you need. Growth.)

Ready to travel smarter? [Let's connect.]