What is a pod?
Your pod is your personal sleeping space – a small private cabin – that includes everything you need, looks incredible (thanks to our team of interior designers) and provides key elements of privacy.
Is my pod completely soundproof?
No. We wish we could tell you it is, but it isn’t. Of course you should know we do everything in our power to make your night as peaceful as possible. Our pods went through a multi-year industrial design process and are constructed with the reduction of noise in mind. Individually controlled fans have been incorporated into your pod not only for air circulation but also to create white noise and help mask outside sounds. A small door and a curtain further improve your privacy. Lastly, ear-plugs are available at reception, free of charge.
Why does the entrance to my pod have a curtain?
Our curtains are there for your privacy. BC’s building code requirements don’t allow for fully lockable doors, so our design team selected high-end curtains that not only look and feel great, but keep light out too, so you can sleep without distractions. And of course the other three walls of your private pod are lined in wood and fitted with mirrors, art and more.
We’ve also designed several spaces for you to secure all your valuables, gear and accessories. More on that lower down on this page.
I’ve noticed that your pods have double mattresses. Does that mean two people can share a pod?
We do allow couples to share a single pod, provided you’ve made a double-occupancy reservation in advance. If you haven’t, we’ll need to levy a hefty surcharge upon check-in.
Can I invite someone I’ve just met to come and stay in my pod?
No, absolutely not. We don’t permit anything that is likely to make other guests feel uncomfortable or even unsafe, so please don’t even try it (we’d like to think you wouldn’t want to make your fellow guests feel awkward anyway). If we find someone staying in a suite who shouldn’t be, we’ll ask them to leave immediately and charge you what you would have had to pay if you’d asked for double-occupancy at the outset (see FAQ above). Don’t make us get tough on you!
Can children stay at Pangea?
We love kids. We think they’re great. But unfortunately guests must be at least 18 years old to stay at Pangea. There’s a certain kind of vibe we want to preserve at Pangea, and in any case we considered that parents with children would probably find more suitable accommodation elsewhere.
What about 'furry friends'?
We love animals nearly as much as we love kids. Perhaps even more. That being said, given the nature of our accommodation and the fact that the spaces are shared, we cannot allow them into the property. One person’s companion is another’s allergy. And besides, Pangea’s owners don’t like guests who are cuter than them.
Please also note we are unable to accommodate service animals given the property is designed around shared sleeping and bathroom facilities. Please reference Section 3 (3) of the B.C. Guide Dog and Service Dog Act for further details.
What's the bathroom situation?
Not what you think. When we travel we hate wrapping towels around our waists and having to walk down the hallway to a shared set of washrooms, usually to wait there until something frees up. So we wiped that idea off the drawing board and started fresh. All our lux washrooms are private to our suites. And there are also lots of them relative to our number of guests. Best of all, we’ve designed our washrooms so each of them is actually four separate components – (1) a shower cabin, (2) a bathroom with a little sink, (3) a larger vanity with a back-lit mirror where you can apply make-up, shave, blow-dry your hair, brush your teeth, etc. and finally (4) a change-room where you can get dressed in a full-height space. What does this mean? Simply, we hope it means you never wait in line, and you feel like you have private spa-like facilities even though you never paid for them. Did we mention we also have in-ceiling speakers throughout so you can dance while you shower?
Do you have storage space for my toys (skis, snowboards and bikes)?
Of course! There’s enough ski and snowboard storage space for every guest. There’s no need to reserve them in advance – just bring a lock or purchase one from The Shop at reception. You’ll notice tons of hooks to hang (and dry) your outer shells. This is the place for wet stuff to dry!
Bike storage is somewhat limited but can be reserved online and in advance of your arrival for a charge. And should our internal bike storage be fully booked, G1 Rentals at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola offers secure storage as well.
What about storage for my ski boots, helmet, goggles and other accessories?
Each guest is provided with a private locker for dirty outer gear, ski boots and accessories. Please help us keep your suite sparkling clean and tranquil by swapping your wet, dirty, noisy boots for shoes (or better yet flip-flops) when you enter the property. Sleek Pangea flip-flops are available for purchase at The Shop if you forget to bring your own (or if you just like ours more). For more info see Pangea Living.
I’ve spent the day knee-deep in Whistler’s incredible powder and my outer gear is wet. Can you help me?
You bet! The same cables that lock your skis and boards were fashioned to securely hang your wet outer shell gear, while ducting and air flow through our ski storage area was designed to help dry it out.
How do I secure my 'stuff'?
All of our pods have secure storage space(s) assigned to them. Our loft floor pods have separate lockable cubbies large enough for a case measuring 32” x 22” x 15” (82cm x 56cm x 37cm), while the pods on all other floors feature both an in-pod cabinet for your valuables and electronics (which you can keep on charge while they’re locked up) and an area within each pod where you can secure your luggage in place using a cable tie (if you’re staying in a 2nd or 3rd floor pod there’s no limit to how large your suitcase can be). Of course, we have to remind you we cannot take any responsibility for items left behind.
So I guess I need locks?
You bet. A maximum of four, for the following:
- Ski/bike rack – for your big toys. If you’re not planning on playing in Whistler’s playgrounds, then you won’t need a lock here.
- Gear locker – for boots, helmets, goggles, body armour, etc. Same as above – no need for a lock if you have no need for the space.
- Private cabinet/cubby – for your valuables.
- Security cable – for your luggage. Unless you’re staying in one of our loft floor pods, in which case this lock isn’t needed (our loft floor pods sport external cubbies that are large enough for both your valuables and your luggage).
For your ski rack you’ll want to make sure that you have a lock with a shackle (in case you don’t know what that is, it’s the “U”-shaped loop of metal) at least 2.5” (64 mm) in length. You’ll also be glad to hear our bike racks come with Kryptonite cable. It doesn’t get much more secure than that.
We’d generally recommend you bring combination locks rather than key locks – it’s just one less thing to lose while you’re out on the slopes! And yes, of course, you can always purchase locks from The Shop if you forget to bring your own.
Do you provide towels?
What do you think we are – a hostel? All pods come replete with high-end cotton linens and fluffy fresh towels. We wouldn’t stay at a place that doesn’t provide them, and we don’t see why you should either.
Is there free WiFi?
We hope that the day will come when no hotel guest anywhere needs to ask this question ever again! We have lightning fast WiFi throughout the property. And it’s always free.
Is there a kitchen I can use?
We unfortunately do not have a kitchen for guest use, and given that our commercial kitchen is subject to stringent health and safety requirements (and regular checks) we are not able to allow guests to use it. That being said, we’ll try our hardest to help you – if you need hot water for oatmeal or instant noodles, just ask! You should also feel totally comfortable lounging about in The Living Room without ordering anything – we named it The Living Room for a reason: we want it to feel like a lounge! Our attentive staff may ask you a few times if you’d like them to bring you a drink, a coffee, or a bite to eat, but please don’t think they’re trying to be pushy – they’re just wanting to make sure they haven’t left you unattended. That space is yours in which to lounge about, play boardgames, watch TV, or just check FB and post to Insta…
My stuff gets dirty and I need it cleaned. What do I do?
Our staff will gladly take care of your laundry in our private facilities. Laundry is charged by the load, not the piece, to save you money. That’s another horrible hotel habit we kicked in the teeth.
What’s the cheapest way to get to Whistler?
If you’re coming from Vancouver, then undoubtedly by bus. See our blog post ‘How to get to Whistler (on the cheap)‘ for a list of several affordable operators.
If you just want a fuss-free way of finding the cheapest seat, try Busbud, a great price comparison site for bus journeys.
Do you have parking?
Yes. We have several underground parking stalls that can be reserved online and in advance of your arrival for a charge (the parkade has a clearance of 6’-8” for those of you who need to know). For more details on how to get to our private parking stalls click here.
Is there an elevator?
There isn’t. Your boutique pod hotel starts on the second floor of the building and requires you to walk up a flight of stairs. That being said, we’ve done everything we can to make the short ‘trip up’ as easy as possible, including making the stairs as gracious as possible given the constraints, and adding a custom bike track so you can roll your bike up and down with relative ease.
What is this 'preauth' thing?
A preauth (also referred to as an authorization or pre-authorization by some) is simply a ‘hold’ on a predetermined amount of funds to cover items you might purchase while you’re staying at Pangea, like at the cafe/bar, or to cover damage. To be clear, a preauth is not a charge – it’s just a deposit.
Like nearly every other hotel, Pangea requires a preauth from each guest upon check-in. Unlike nearly every other hotel, Pangea also allows its guests to make a cash deposit in lieu of a a credit card preauth – we know that some of our guests won’t have access to a credit card on their travels, and we want to make sure we can still accommodate them.
As of the time of writing, Pangea’s preauth / deposit is calculated as $50 per person per night, subject to a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $350 per pod (though this may increase or decrease over time – contact us prior to your arrival if you want an update). Assuming you leave your pod in the same shape you find it, and settle your tab at the bar prior to departure, you’ll receive your preauth / deposit back during check-out.
How good is your location actually?
Unbeatable. We’re located in the centre of Whistler Village, on the iconic pedestrian-only ‘Village Stroll’, surrounded by the best eateries and watering holes and just a stone’s throw from the gondolas accessing North America’s #1 ranked ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb. The map below shows the prime part of town (as outlined in black). And yes, we happen to be right there in the middle.
What on earth does Pangea mean anyway?
Funny you mention the earth. A long, long, time ago (300 million years ago for those of you who like to count), prior to the world’s land mass breaking up and eventually separating into the seven continents we know today, there was a single, unified, “super-continent” geographers, scientists and historians named Pangea. We named our project Pangea as a throwback to the times when the world was one, when everything was together, simply because our Pangea is intended to be a single home – a ‘super-home’ for all travelers.