This is Part Two of my 24 hours in Whistler. Part Two is going to focus on accommodations: The Pangea Pod Hotel!
The Pangea Pod Hotel is in the heart of Whistler Village. It had made quite the buzz last summer when it first opened its doors. It is no secret that hotel prices in Whistler are astronomical. During peak ski and snowboarding season, some hotel rooms can go for as much as $1000 per night! That is MADNESS! No wonder I keep my visits to Whistler to day trips.
Unlike traditional hotels, husband and wife duo Russell and Jelena Kling, set out to create a boutique-hotel-like experience at an affordable price. (Weekdays range $85/1 person, $160/2 people; Weekends $170 /1 person, $280 /2 people). Honestly, the only time I am in my hotel room is when I am showering, getting ready and sleeping. It is a rarity for me to utilize hotel amenities like pools or gyms or whatever else they might offer because I want to spend my time exploring the city.
THE PODS
Each pod is equipped with a double memory-foam mattress, mirror, USB outlets, lights, small lockable cupboard, fan and storage space. For facilities like bathrooms and showers, Pangea's 88 pods are divided among 8 suites which each have two bathrooms, two showers, four sinks and two changing rooms. The suites, facilities and everything within the hotel were immaculate and very well maintained. Coming from someone who is very particular about cleanliness, I was quite impressed by Pangea's attention to detail.
RFID ROOM PASS
Pangea Pod Hotel is the first hotel that I have stayed at that does not use a traditional room key card. During check-in, each Pangea Pod Guest is issued a fancy RFID Wristband. I found it be brilliant because not only can you add money to the RFID to spend at the hotel's restaurant and rooftop bar, but you will never lose your room key again! A few nights later, I was at a hotel in Victoria BC that used the standard room pass and yours truly lost hers within the hour. So RFID wristband room passes need to become the norm!!!
FOOD & DRINKS
On the main floor, Pangea Pod Hotel has a cafe and full-service bar called "The Living Room." On the second floor, they have an outdoor rooftop bar called "The Rooftop." The Living Room is a stunning mishmash of design featuring hexagonal mirrors on the ceiling, copper pipe detailing and the most beautiful coral pink, baby blue and grey Ola Volo mural. The Living Room also boasts an impressive collection of board games which gets two thumbs up from me because what better way to meet new people than over a fun board game.
The night that I arrived at Pangea Pod, I sampled a number of their drinks from the Rooftop Patio Bar. The night began with their signature cocktail, the Dalmation. A splendid sweet and tangy combination of vodka, peppercorn syrup, grapefruit and lemon juice and a sprig of fresh rosemary. I am a cocktail girl and the Dalmation ticked all the boxes for me. The Espresso Martini is a bold concoction of vodka, coffee liqueur and Pangea espresso. This Espresso Martini is a serious beverage that is a double-tap of alcohol and caffeine. As I am a lightweight, I ended the night with a virgin Rooftop Iced Tea which is a delicious hibiscus black tea that I can totally see myself sipping on a hot summer's day. I think my Starbucks Black Tea Lemonade might just have some competition from the Rooftop Iced Tea.
I tried a number of their Flatbread Pizzas and all of them were fabulous. Pangea Pod is about excitement and the pizza menu echos it. I had two favourites from the night, the first being their Caramelized Pear and Brie Cheese pizza which is paired with mozzarella, parmesan, blue cheese, chopped walnuts on a base of tomato sauce. The second was the Butternut Squash & Goat's Cheese which is finished with house-made green pesto and a sweet syrupy balsamic reduction.
In the morning when I checked out, I had breakfast at The Living Room. I wanted something simple and fresh and to my delight, their menu is exactly that! The spinach eggs Benedict has a luscious hollandaise that is buttery and in the word's Julia Child: "whipped to submission." The real winner for me was the Pangea Power Smoothie which I am still dreaming about and wishing I could have every single morning. if I lived in Whistler, I probably would go and get a smoothie every day!
OLA VOLO ART
I have always been drawn to large mural pieces and Ola Volo's work happens to be one of my favourites. I have talked about her work in the past, but for those of you who are not as familiar with her, Ola Volo is a Vancouver-based artist. She works with bold lines and simple shapes that are filled in with intricate little details. Her murals generally have a very limited colour palette which only amplifies the use of bold black lines.
At Pangea Pod Hotel, Ola Volo was commissioned for two large wall murals. The first one greets you at the entrance of the hotel. For this piece, Ola Volo uses metallic gold which is contrasted by a deep black. The image is of a hipster dude in a flat rimmed hat just lounging on his back with a sultry woman who has flowing curly hair floating above him. Between and around the two subjects are little details relating to road trips and the tree-topped mountains that surround whistler.
The second piece is as I previously stated inside Pangea Pod's Cafe. The coral pink and baby blue is my favourite of the two and perhaps even my favourite Ola Volo Mural to date. A boho-chic woman daintily holds a martini with four olives while giving the most killer side-eye. A hip dude with a standard-issued hipster beanie is holding what I thought at first glance an espresso, but after closer inspection, he too is gingerly grasping a martini glass between two fingers.
GEAR STORAGE
When in Whistler, you have to hit the slopes whether it is boarding in the winter or biking in the summer. Either way, you probably have some expensive gear with you that you want to store in a safe place. Pangea's "Toy Box" features specially designed storage for skis, snowboards, boots and bikes. They are all lockable so you can rest assured that they are safe.
Pangea Pod is an affordable hotel option that Whistler desperately needed. I am glad Russell and Jelena have created this phenomenal space for anyone that wants a comfortable safe place to sleep that is not going to break the bank. The Pods are spacious and the food is delicious. The best part, Pangea Pod is smack dab in the middle of Whistler Village so you are in the thick of all the Whistler action.
BYES
When in Whistler, you have to hit the slopes whether it is boarding in the winter or biking in the summer. Either way, you probably have some expensive gear with you that you want to store in a safe place. Pangea's "Toy Box" features specially designed storage for skis, snowboards, boots and bikes. They are all lockable so you can rest assured that they are safe.
Pangea Pod is an affordable hotel option that Whistler desperately needed. I am glad Russell and Jelena have created this phenomenal space for anyone that wants a comfortable safe place to sleep that is not going to break the bank. The Pods are spacious and the food is delicious. The best part, Pangea Pod is smack dab in the middle of Whistler Village so you are in the thick of all the Whistler action.
BYES
Disclaimer: Complimentary Media trip courtesy of Serena PR, Tourism Whistler, Destination BC and Pangea Pod Hotel. All opinions and content are original and my own. Certain pictures provided by the talented Christina Kaspercyk of Lumin Pictures Inc.
Pangea Pod Hotel
A: 4333 Sunrise Alley, Whistler, BC V8E 1M7
A: 4333 Sunrise Alley, Whistler, BC V8E 1M7
T: 1-844-726-4329
No comments:
Post a Comment