麻豆传媒映画

Hand-painter murals cover many of the walls at the Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler, including this one in the Living Room. Photo Sandra Thomas

But being a travel writer there have been times in the past when I鈥檝e arrived at a destination only to discover my luggage had not, so I knew I could roll with it 鈥� so long as I found a toothbrush. Luckily, besides the two towels resting on the mattress in my pod, the hotel was quick to help and supplied me with a toothbrush and miniature tube of toothpaste so I knew I鈥檇 be OK. But my next concern was how this baby boomer body was going to handle a night in a hostel designed to accommodate skiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers of a much younger demographic. Turns out, that was OK too.

The Pangea, located at 4325 Sunrise Alley, can best be described as an upscale hostel with sleeping pods that allow privacy compared to the dorm-style sleeping arrangements typically found at similar lodgings around the world. The creative minds behind the project are聽聽who spent years travelling and researching what works, and what doesn鈥檛, when it comes to hostels across the globe before developing their own pod prototype for the Pangea.

I slept in pod number 14 in this suite at the Pangea Pod Hotel. Photo Sandra Thomas

Their plan is to offer stylish and comfortable accommodation and privacy at prices that allow travellers on a budget to visit Whistler, a mountain paradise as famous for its pricey hotel rooms as it is for its beauty and year-round outdoor activities.

"Pangea combines the affordability of a hostel with the perks of a boutique hotel,鈥� says Russell Kling. 鈥淲e wanted to cater to the type of traveller who enjoys the conviviality of shared spaces but prefers their own personal space at the end of the day."

Jelena Kling says the couple initially wanted to open the pod hotel in 麻豆传媒映画so younger travellers would have an alternative to this city鈥檚 high-priced hotels, but they eventually had to quash that idea.

鈥淲e spent a year looking in Vancouver,鈥� says Kling. 鈥淏ut the cost of property and the zoning bylaws made it impossible.鈥�

She adds the couple found a large heritage-style building that would have worked well, but even with the promise to leave the fa莽ade intact, their proposal was rejected by the city. Their Plan B was to take over an existing timeshare property in Whistler Village and convert it. The couple spent five years from the time they came up with the plan to fill the 鈥渧oid between hostels and hotels鈥� to opening the doors of the Pangea last week.

Examples of what the washrooms, showers and change rooms look like at the Pangea Pod Hotel. In our pod we had two washrooms against one wall, two showers against another and two change rooms on a third. And yes, they all have doors. Photo Pangea Pod Hotel

Rather than accommodating guests in warehouse-style dorm rooms, the Pangea has 88 private pods divided among eight suites. The suite I stayed in had eight pods, two washrooms, two showers, two sinks and two change rooms. The smallest suite includes six pods while the largest has 16 spread over two floors. Half of the suites have their own balconies. One suite is female only making it ideal for a women鈥檚 weekend, while the others are co-ed. Each suite is accessed by a wristband key card adding another layer of security.

This is the pod I slept in at Pangea Pod Hotel. Photo Sandra Thomas

After 鈥渃hecking in鈥� to my pod I found a double mattress, good-quality sheets, two pillows, a piece of art on one wall and a mirror on the other. I chose to sleep in a bottom pod and despite the fact I had to crawl in and out of it on my hands and knees I found it comfortable to sleep in with nary a claustrophobic thought.

There was a rack with three hangers on one side of the pod 鈥� where I could have hung my clothes, if I had brought any with me 鈥� and multiple hooks on the other. The pods also include a small cabinet where you can lock your electronics with a small access point so your cords can reach the plugs and USB ports built onto the side. A key feature of each pod, and something a woman of my age can really appreciate, is the built-in fan. Not only does the fan circulate the air in the pod, it also creates white noise meant to minimize sound.

The bar in the Living Room at the Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler. Photo Pangea Pod Hotel

罢丑别听, the epicentre of the Pangea, is a communal space with a bar where guests can meet and greet, play one of numerous board games available to borrow, buy food, get a caffeine fix and enjoy an adult beverage. The small, but thoughtful drink menu includes a variety of craft beers, good quality wine and some really creative cocktails 鈥� all at prices designed not to break the bank. But even better than the Living Room on a warm summer evening, is the small rooftop聽where guests can enjoy a drink and food while looking out over the village stroll.

Guests at the Pangea Pod Hotel can securely store their gear at the Pangea Pod Hotel. Photo Pangea Pod Hotel

When it comes to guests with their own sports gear, the Pangea has ski and snowboard racks inside the聽聽which is also where guests can hang up wet coats and clothing. In the summer, the Toybox provides safe storage for bikes in the same space 鈥� guests need to bring their own locks for all of their equipment.

As for my unexpected stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel? From a baby boomer perspective, while it鈥檚 not a property I鈥檒l be rushing back to, I鈥檝e told everyone who asked (and there have been many) that if I was a few years younger, I鈥檇 be making reservations now.

Rate compare

I compared rates online for the Pangea Pod Hotel for two different dates against a mid-range hotel and a high-end property in Whistler. These were the rates I found while searching Aug. 15. (The Pangea also has a five per cent-off promotion happening now.)

Aug. 31 (Friday of the Labour Day long weekend)

The rates started at $107 a night for a single person (non-refundable) to $278 a night for two people to share a pod (refundable) before tax and fees.

The cost for a single room with a double bed started at $186 (pre-paid 14 days in advance and non-refundable) to $245 a night before taxes and fees, but there is a two-night minimum.

Rooms start at $299 a night before taxes and fees.

Dec. 21 (Christmas holidays and high season)

Pangea Pod Hotel

Pods start at $143 a night for a single person (non-refundable) to $398 a night for two people to share a pod (refundable).

Crystal Lodge

Single room at a cost of $612 a night (pre-paid, 45 days in advance and non-refundable) 鈥� with a minimum of five nights for a total of $3,520.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler

$1,109 a night before taxes and fees with full payment due 60 days in advance during the 鈥淔estive Season.鈥�

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@sthomas10