Whitepod Review

Typical price:

£150

We like:

That you're snug as a winter bunny inside the wood-fired pods; the awesome views of the Alps; that it's a genuinely green alternative to traditional ski resorts

We don't like:

That the outer zips of the pod entrance can freeze in icy conditions; that it's half an hour drive from the nearest train station

SmartPlanet judgement:

The space-age pods are even more surreal in reality than they look in photos, but we were fabulously pleased we put our curiosity to the test. The pods are surprisingly warm and comfortable, the food was great and we really enjoyed the proximity to the snow, especially the torch-lit snowshoeing over the mountain at night. The private piste has little to tempt experienced skiers looking to carve up the mountainside, but that's not the point of Whitepod -- come here to enjoy the mountains, the views and the fresh air, away from the crowds. It is a bit pricey, but as long as you don't expect all the pampered trappings of a chic ski lodge (there's no mini-bar or ensuite bathroom), it is worth every penny.

Score:

Contact:

Nice Car Company at http://www.whitepod.com/
Telephone: +41 24 471 38 38

Whitepod comprises a chalet-style lodge and nine 'pods' high up on the slope of a mountain with fantastic views over the Alps. The futuristic pods have steel frames modelled on a geodesic dome design that's also used at the Eden Project, and they're rock solid. On our second night, the winds reached gale force but the pod frame didn't move an inch.

The shell of the pods is made of canvas but they're nothing like tents. Instead, the plush interior is a cocoon of comfort -- a sheepskin-covered throw, 14-tog duvet, log fire and an armchair with a window offering a panoramic view over the mountains.

Whitepod is the vision of local entrepreneur Sofia de Meyer, who grew up in nearby village of Villars. She designed the camp to be a hip, eco-friendly mountain retreat, with more of a natural setting than resort hotels or other ski lodges.

Central to her 'eco philosophy' is that the camp is run as a small-scale enterprise that has minimal impact on the environment. So there's no electricity in the pods -- they're heated by wood stoves and petrol lamps -- the furniture is either recycled or from sustainable wood, the bedding organic, and at the end of the season, the structures, which are built on raised wooden platforms, are dismantled without leaving a trace on the mountainside.

A few hundred metres from the camp is Whitepod's private piste where there's a renovated T-bar lift that takes you half-way up the mountain to a button lift for the final ascent to the top. The piste is a fairly gentle 600m descent; great if you're intermediate level and want to practice your turns, but not much to challenge extreme skiers.

Near the top there's a huge mountain refuge, which is also operated by Whitepod. It's used mainly as an accommodation base for groups but if you're staying in the pods you can go for lunch or dinner, followed by a torch-lit ski back down to the camp.

Five minute's walk down the mountain from the pods is the focal point of the camp -- a snug wooden chalet where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served around a central wood-burning fire. Bathroom facilities are also based here, although one of the pods does include an in-pod toilet, as well as the relaxing spa which offers a number of treatments.

Adjacent to the lodge is the equipment store where you can hire all the necessary outdoor winter equipment. After the long train journey from London, we dropped off our bags, immediately hired snowshoes and went on a wonderful torch-lit trek over the mountain with a guide. The following day we hired skis, boots and poles, and spent the day on the piste -- sharing the facilities with just a handful of other guests.

While the cost of staying at one of these eco-domes might seem steep, it does include transfers to and from the nearest train station, morning hot drinks and afternoon tea with freshly baked cakes, plus all the wood for the fire. We loved it.

[box]Essentials: Each pod cost from £150 per night, subject to a two-night minimum stay (snowshoes cost £21 per day with maps of marked trails). For details on travelling to the retreat by train, air or car, visit Whitepod's website and click on 'location'. Les Cerniers, Batt. Postale 681, 1871 Les Giettes, Switzerland. [/box]

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