— Viktoria: “I have lived in the mountains for 20 years — I love the pods, the place, the view and nature.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— Please tell us about the history of the Whitepod camp. What was the idea behind it?
Viktoria: “It started as an ecologically minded camp in that we could take everything away again that we brought in. It was only open in the winter, and in the summer we took everything down so that it was 100% back to nature. That was the idea.
We now have 15 pods instead of the five from the beginning. It’s still the same, but we’re not taking them away in the summer any more.
It’s ecological in the way that it’s heated by wooden stoves, but there is electricity in the bathroom. You can’t be 100% ecological nowadays, but we try to do as best as we can.
I love the pods, the place, the view and nature. I have lived in the mountains for 20 years and for me it’s great. If you don’t like mountains, skiing or snow, then it’s probably best not to come here.”
We now have 15 pods instead of the five from the beginning. It’s still the same, but we’re not taking them away in the summer any more.
It’s ecological in the way that it’s heated by wooden stoves, but there is electricity in the bathroom. You can’t be 100% ecological nowadays, but we try to do as best as we can.
I love the pods, the place, the view and nature. I have lived in the mountains for 20 years and for me it’s great. If you don’t like mountains, skiing or snow, then it’s probably best not to come here.”
— Whitepod exteriors
— Please tell us a bit about the pods and the facilities.
Viktoria: “The pods are 40 square meters. Inside there are beds and furniture, as well as showers and toilets. They all have one entrance and one big plastic window in the front. They’re all positioned the same, with a view toward the valley, except for a special one that views Lake Geneva. In the front are the older pods on wooden platforms where there are chairs and tables you can sit at.
In between the pods is a chalet, a small spot with a sauna. That’s where we also serve breakfast and tea-time, which is both included in the price. Next to the pods is the restaurant. If people want dinner in their pods, we can accommodate that too.”
In between the pods is a chalet, a small spot with a sauna. That’s where we also serve breakfast and tea-time, which is both included in the price. Next to the pods is the restaurant. If people want dinner in their pods, we can accommodate that too.”
—
— Do the pods get cold at night?
Viktoria: “The public places at Whitepod are heated by wood until nine. If guests go back home after dinner, the pods are still warm from being heated all day. When it’s really cold out, you have to put wood in at night but we have both little and big blocks of wood to heat with, and we explain how to work everything upon the guests’ arrival. And there’s a little electric heater in the bathrooms, so the bathrooms are always warm.”
— Whitepod interior
— How long do people usually stay at Whitepod?
Viktoria: “Usually four nights, but some people who stay for a week. In one week, you have enough time to do all of the activities here. The minimum stay is two nights because if you come at five or six o’clock in the evening and you’re leaving the next day at 11, there’s not much time to do anything at all.”
— Dog sledding
— I imagine it’s a very romantic place. Do you get a lot of couples?
Viktoria: “Yes, but we also have groups. It’s great to be here at night looking over the valley. I would say couples are about 50% and the rest are groups for weddings or whatever.
We always try to rent the entire place for groups. It’s not good to mix private clients with the rest of a group.”
We always try to rent the entire place for groups. It’s not good to mix private clients with the rest of a group.”
—
Viktoria's favourites:
Whitepod
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— Please tell us a bit about the area surrounding Whitepod.
Viktoria: “We are surrounded by nature, so it’s really about getting you into nature. If you want a museum, you have to go to Aigle or to Lausanne. There are no shops or other restaurants around here. It’s only us and some private chalets and that’s it. There are no neighbors nearby.”
— Le Chalet des Cernsiers
— What are some of the activities offered at Whitepod?
Viktoria: “We have snowshoe hikes in the woods where you can walk up for two or three hours going up to 2,000 meters above sea level. We can also organize that with guides who can explain a lot of the natural environment.
We have two private ski lifts that are reserved for our guests. The skiing is not really for beginners because there are a lot of steep spots. If we do have beginners, they often go to a ski area a 25 minute drive away.
We also offer hang gliding, which takes about 45 minutes, dropping 1600 meters, as well as dog sledding. The sleds accommodate one or two people and guests can do it themselves or with a guide.
And finally the spa provides different styles of massages either at the spa or in the pods.”
We have two private ski lifts that are reserved for our guests. The skiing is not really for beginners because there are a lot of steep spots. If we do have beginners, they often go to a ski area a 25 minute drive away.
We also offer hang gliding, which takes about 45 minutes, dropping 1600 meters, as well as dog sledding. The sleds accommodate one or two people and guests can do it themselves or with a guide.
And finally the spa provides different styles of massages either at the spa or in the pods.”
—
— How does one get to Whitepod?
Viktoria: “You can drive up to the restaurant and reception area, but you’ll likely need snow tires or chains, even with four-wheel drive. It’s nearly 1400 meters above sea level here. We have a public bus that comes right up to the reception area from Monthey. Or you can take a train and then a taxi to get here from Geneva or Aigle
From the reception area we bring the luggage up to the pods and our guests get up there either by the ski lift, snowshoes or snow machine.”
From the reception area we bring the luggage up to the pods and our guests get up there either by the ski lift, snowshoes or snow machine.”
— View at night
— What do you look forward to the most about your work?
Viktoria: “I think it’s great to be here. It takes a lot of organization and I like to organize parties and such. I enjoy making the guests happy. It’s always been our way of working to be there mixing with the guests and keeping them happy.
It’s a challenge; not everything is easy. For example, it’s quite complicated to all needs to and from the pods”
It’s a challenge; not everything is easy. For example, it’s quite complicated to all needs to and from the pods”
—
— When is Whitepod open?
Viktoria: “In the season 2011/2012 we are open from the 20th of December 2011 until the 15th of April 2012.”
—
— Thank you, Viktoria!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Catered
Accommodation type
Unique property
Location
Mountains
Special requirements
Please enquire about children
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car not required
Private parking
Limited public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
1 Double bedroom
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
1 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
0 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
0 Bathroom (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
1 Shower room (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
-
0 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
0 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 2 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
Price per night - weeknights
CHF 400
CHF 400
Extra bed - weeknights
CHF 50
CHF 50
Price per night - weekends
CHF 590
CHF 590
Extra bed - weekends
CHF 80
CHF 80
Size: 40 square meters. 15 units available.
A pod is a geodesic structure anchored on wooden platforms, and naturally isolated from the cold and the snow – all pods are equipped with wood-burning stoves, organic luxury bedding and full services bathrooms. At the center of the 15 pods, stands a charming early 1800s wooden chalet where guests meet for breakfast in the morning or gather in the evening around its central fireplace for evening drinks and socializing.
Price includes:
Buffet breakfast at the Chalet de Courten
Access to the sauna
All equipment necessary for the stay – back bag, headlights, snowshoes, sledge
Access to our private ski slopes
Free WIFI at the Chalet de Courten
Tea-Time – afternoon tea & pastries served everyday
Parking
All taxes
Whitepod opens December 20th.
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
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