Pangea Pod Hotel – Tiny Room But Big Value

The Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler
The Pangea Pod Hotel in Whistler

Whistler’s Pangea Pod Hotel is the first pod hotel in Canada to open. Its tiny pods are chic, well designed and big on value. The Pangea Pod Hotel is about half the price of a conventional hotel in Whistler and a giant step up from what you’d get in a hostel.

With its prime location in Whistler Village just minutes away from the gondola, it’s likely that the pod hotel will cause some commotion in the hotel industry, especially in Whistler, one of North America’s top tourist destinations known for its pricier high season accommodation.

The Pangea Pod hotel is the brain child of husband-and-wife team Russell and Jelena Kling who met in a hostel in Prague. The well-traveled duo were “loosely inspired by Tokyo’s capsule hotels.” As Jelena Kling explains “the Pangea Pod Hotel is for open minded travelers who are fine at sharing facilities but who want comfortable beds and a professionally run hotel.”

This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, Iwill receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Thank you very much for your support.

The Pangea Pod Hotel occupies everything above the ground floor in this central location in Whistler Village
The Pangea Pod Hotel occupies everything above the ground floor in this central location in Whistler Village

Pangea Pod Hotel – what you’ll discover on a visit

There are 88 individual pods across eight suites at the Pangea Pod Hotel – accessed with a wrist band that opens the lock to the suite. (The wrist band can also be used to pay for bar and food items.)

Some pods are for women only. The size of your pod determines the price. (Right now the price points are between $99 and $149 per night + tax.) Within the suite are private bathroom facilities, shower rooms and change rooms. There are also a couple of sinks with a mirror so you can quickly brush your teeth or put on makeup.

If you do have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, motion detectors light up the hallway and the bathroom door once you enter. It’s all very thoughtfully designed. It is however not wheelchair accessible.

If you’re a couple traveling you can use just one pod and you’ll pay 75% of the price for the second person. But you might want two pods just for the extra space.

What you get in your pod

The pod itself contains a very comfortable double memory foam mattress that is the size of a double bed. There are two pillows, a mirror and artwork, electrical outlets and a built-in fan that also provides enough white noise that you won’t hear your neighbours.

There is hanging space for clothes and a small storage area for your luggage – which can be chained if you have concerns. There is also one cabinet that can be locked to secure smaller items like cameras and phones. A toggle switch controls the lighting and a curtain provides privacy.

There’s a lot more to the Pangea Pod Hotel than just the pods. It is home to the only rooftop bar in Whistler with an excellent view of Mountain Square.

A Living Room with floor to ceiling windows hosts a bar, an espresso bar (fantastic coffee), a lounge and a café. What they call The Toy Box is a big storage area where you can safely leave your gear like bikes and snowboards.

The art work that first greets you at the entrance to the Pangea Pod Hotel
The art work that first greets you at the entrance to the hotel
You'll be met by smiling staff and possibly co-owner Jelena King (on the left) at check-in
You’ll be met by smiling staff and possibly co-owner Jelena King (on the left) at check-in
The check-in experience is fast, easy and intuitive at the Pangea Pod Hotel
The check-in experience is fast, easy and intuitive
A large dining area - that does double duty as a place to hang out and work
A large dining area – that does double duty as a place to hang out and work
The Living Room at the Pangea Pod Hotel is a vibrant space
The Living Room is a vibrant space

My Pangea Pod Hotel experience

I don’t love tight places so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the pod.

Once inside the pod, it felt cozy but not tight. I could comfortably sit up, wriggle into a pair of shorts and touch the walls from the middle of the bed.

The ceiling doesn’t feel like its suffocating you and with a curtain I didn’t feel closed in the way I would with a door. I literally heard nothing from the moment I closed my curtains – not a cough or a snore or a door closing.

A night in the Pangea Pod Hotel far exceeded my expectations!

Booking a stay at the Pangea Pod hotel

If you want to stay at the hotel book a room here.

Each pod has a curtain for privacy
Each pod in the Pangea Pod Hotel has a curtain for privacy
This is my pod before I moved in at the Pangea Pod Hotel
This is my pod before I moved in
I don't feel the least claustrophobic in my pod- cozy yes
I don’t feel the least claustrophobic in my pod- cozy yes
you can't stand upright in your pod but you can sit comfortably in the Pangea Pod Hotel
And no you can’t stand upright in your pod but you can sit comfortably
 Two stories of pods; this area posts a balcony as well
Two stories of pods; this area posts a balcony as well
Pretty sweet view if you have a pod with a balcony
Pretty sweet view if you have a pod with a balcony

A Tiny Room with Big Value at Whistler's First Pod Hotel
There’s lots of room to safely lock up your bike (and a charge to do so) in The Toy Room
There's also a place to lock up your snowboards and skis at the Pangea Pod Hotel
There’s also a place to lock up your snowboards and skis
Great view from the rooftop bar - the only true one in Whistler
Great view from the rooftop bar of the Pangea Pod Hotel – the only true one in Whistler
A Tiny Room with Big Value at Whistler's First Pod Hotel
Jelena and Russell King – the energetic couple that made it all happen

Although at my age I am not the target demographic for the Pangea Pod Hotel, I did walk away a fan. The millennial crowd is going to love the place but having said that I would happily spend the night in the pod again if I was traveling solo.

Thank you to Jelena and Russell for hosting my stay! Kudos for being trailblazers in Canada.

My best wishes for what is bound to be an extremely successful enterprise – especially with your bountiful energy and enthusiasm. To my solo traveling, adventurous readers – go give this place a try next time you’re in Whistler.

Further reading on things to do in the Vancouver – Whistler corridor

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The Whistler Boutique Hotel Pangea Pod Experience

My Cart Close (×)

Your cart is empty
Browse Shop