I have been coming up to Santa Cruz for the last 4 years to visit my daughter who moved up here to go to school. I wish I would have booked at the Pelican Pt Inn a long, long time ago. Not sure why I resisted because it is perfect in every way for what I need. First, I don't like eating out all the time. The rooms at Pelican Pt Inn all have small kitchens with a 2-burner gas range, microwave, and small refrigerator. The kitchen is stocked with dishes, pots, pans and silverware. Second, we travel with our dog who is a rescue and cannot be left at home with a sitter or in a kennel because of his early experiences. Pelican Pt Inn allows dogs (and I think other pets) there is a 1 time fee of $50 which is excellent. We stayed at other places where they charge $25 per day! There are 2 really great eating places in walking distance to Pelican Pt that allow dogs on their patios. One is Taqueria Michoacan which is literally right next door to the hotel. Their fish tacos made with fresh talipia is outstanding. Down the street about a block is an Italian/Argentine restaurant Star Bene. Delicious food and lots of it! I had the Spaghetti del Mare, pasta with seafood, lots of muscles, clams, shrimp and white fish. Enough for 2 meals or left overs for another meal and since you are staying at the Pelican Pt Inn--you have a refrigerator and a microwave. Take your meal down to the beach which is just across the street and down a block, to enjoy the view. To the yelper who was "disappointed" there was no where to walk their dog: What??! The beach is right across the street and dogs are allowed. The City even provides pooper bags. As long as you keep your dog on a leash you are good to go, miles of walking space! Love this hotel. We will be back. All the comforts of home and then some. NICE owners too! read more

I have a hard time understanding how anyone could rate this hotel (which is actually a motel) 4 or 5 stars. For starters, and a little note to the management here: PINE-SOL IS NOT GOD'S GIFT TO MANKIND. The room absolutely reeked of the stuff (or some lemon scented cleaning product, who knows). In fact by the next day we were so high on the stuff that we had to find a new place to stay. Second, the walls are paper thin. We were lucky enough to be in the "best" room (#1) which only shares one wall, but the guy next to us had emphysema or something and we could hear every phlegm extrication with crystal clarity. Third, the shower over the bath was nice enough except for the BIG RUSTY BAR which blocks your way into the tub. Obviously it's for the elderly and/or disabled, but it was really ugly and in the way. Lastly, and what would almost push me to give 3 stars, the owner and staff were incredibly friendly. They apologized about the pine-sol smell and said they'd look into it. They stayed late so that we could arrive late. They also allowed us to leave even though we were beyond the cancelation notice cutoff which I really appreciate. Unfortunately in this case, the hospitality just wasn't near enough to tip the scales. read more

Great location, lovely proprietors, nice rooms, free wireless internet, a block from a pretty beach, what more can you ask for? We've stayed at the Pelican Point Inn twice now. Both times it was wonderful. It's newly renovated and (I think) all the rooms have kitchenettes (stocked with cups, glasses, flatware, pots & pans, plates, napkins, coffee/tea, etc) which is great. We stocked our frig with fruit and snacks and made our own picnic breakfast to take to the beautiful, uncrowded beach just a block away. We've stayed in a one-bedroom (it also had a sofa/bed in the living room) and a studio and they were both attractively decorated, spacious and quiet. The owners were right on site and always there to help with anything we needed. When we were checking out the first time we stayed, we saw one of the owners, Ann, running out to a car to bring a guest a child's sweatshirt that she'd put in the dryer for them (presumably after the kid got wet at the beach). That's the kind of wonderful folks that run this place. We will definitely be back! This is our new home in Santa Cruz. **Update**Just returned from our third visit to the PPI. This time we stayed in a two bedroom suite with a co-worker. I was worried that it would be weird but it was perfectly fine. The rooms are separated by the bathroom so there is a lot of privacy. As with every time before the staff was wonderful and attentive. Five stars all the way! read more

My husband and I recently spent a night at Pelican Point Inn in one of the studios (room 7). Our friends were staying in a vacation rental over on 12th Ave., so the location was good and very convenient for us. The room was clean and cozy and suited us just fine for an overnight visit. The bed was very comfortable--I slept soundly after a day of being out and about in the sun! The kitchenette was cool and I appreciated the Peets coffee and little creamers-- much better than the bad coffee and powdered creamers you get at most motels. Due to the position of the stove burners, I imagine it would be hard to make some actual meals, but for something quick and easy, it would probably be fine. Our reservation was made over the phone although staff was quick to respond to my initial emails, also. Both Ann and Kim are very friendly, welcoming, and accommodating... The Inn is also dog friendly, another big plus! read more

Love, love this place! Clean, reasonably priced, great location! Perfect little dog-friendly inn! Great, friendly service! read more

We'll probably come back. Decent accommodations, close to beach and food, clean, kitchen, easy to find location. We had unit 4, one bedroom w/ living room ($205per, w/ AAA discount and doggie charge). Extra bed set up in living room in addition to a sofa. The Good: Dog friendly. Location, locals neighborhood, close to great surf along Pleasure Point stretch (2-3min). Close to Capitola (5-10min). The Bad: Very thin walls and floors, our neighbor wasn't even a screamer and we could hear everything. In addition, people walking up the stairs and in their rooms seems to magnify throughout our room. Not that big a deal for us, but important to know. read more

Stayed here for two nights, the price was right and great amenities! Mini kitchen equipped with cooking utensils, full sized bathroom, and separate bedroom from the kitchen and living area. Only 4 stars because the queen bed was a lot more firm than ANY bed should be, and thin walls. Nice wood floors, but I could hear every high heeled clomp our neighbors made and almost full conversations. Maybe next time we will request a different room. read more

A few friends and I booked two rooms here during Memorial weekend. This place is awesome! The rooms were so clean, spacious, and refreshingly updated. One of the best things about Pelican Point Inn is how close it is to some of the best beaches in Santa Cruz! We went out to the bars, and it wasn't too expensive to take a taxi from here. I would love to stay at Pelican Point Inn every time I visit SC! read more

Stayed here for a weekend (Fri-Sun) and it was very convenient. Prices would have been great but for the pet charge which is per stay, not per night, so rewards those who stay longer. As it was we paid less than $300 for 2 weekend nights in a 1 bedroom - pretty good I'd say. Well appointed bedroom, bath, kitchen, living/dining room. Doggy even thought the twin bed in the living room was for her - hah. As another reviewer noted, some more art on the walls would help, but that's a minor thing. The lack of art makes it seem a bit stark & dare I say it, bleak. You just gotta ignore that - you aren't there for the art. Excellent beach access. We enjoyed walking on the beach and in the neighborhood. Easy access to downtown & the boardwalk, though not within walking distance. The owner came by to service the room & even remembered that my husband was here for his high school reunion. Nice personal touch. read more

This place was fantastic!! We called at the last minute on Friday of presidents weekend, and luckily they had one room available for the one night that we needed. It was only a studio, but we only planned on sleeping there, so it was perfect. There was a little kitchenette area where we stored the dog food and were able to make coffee and store other little tid bits. The place is close enough to numerous beaches and down town Santa Cruz, a short drive, not walking to the down town area. We loved the beachy decor and that they allowed pets with only a small cleaning fee. That was the biggest selling point for us, having the dogs. There is a great coffee shop with in walking distance, a nice local place with lots of tasty treats and organic options. Sounds like a great time? Why minus one star? For a place that touts being a pet friendly hotel, there was no where easy or close to take the pets to go potty! read more

This trip was to drop-off my kid at UC Sta Cruz. I've been staying at different hotels/inns on our visits over the last few months. Everything is relatively expensive in Sta Cruz area. So, I shopped around for the most value for the $150/night minimum I was going to pay to stay in Sta Cruz. Pelican Point Inn has hit the target in this regards. This is a studio-type inn with beautiful rooms, excellent service, conveniently located. Fully equipped kitchenette, larger bathroom (shampoo, soap and blow dryer provided), comfortable sleeper couch, queen size bed in the bedroom, nice furniture. The rooms looked to have been recently remodeled and updated. Very nice. Granite kitchen & bathroom counter, nice flooring, newer furniture. The oooonly negative comment I have - need some artwork on the walls. A little stark. The owner is very helpful with confirming bookings with follow-up phone calls. I wasn't able to find anything for Pelican Point Inn that allowed on-line booking, so the old telephone and human interaction was the mode for reservations. Worked just fine. ;-) There are a couple of restaurants within a block or two - Southwestern style, Italian and a taqueria. We tried the taqueria. It was OK, we like Roberto's & Alberto's in San Diego...a little different. There is also a cafe maybe 1 1/2 blocks to the north with great coffee, pastries, bagel, etc. Mmmm....behind the cafe is a bike shop. Very cool. A carneceria is catty corner from the inn. They have some of basics and specialize in Mexican groceries. All in all, I'd say this worth the price we paid. read more

Hubby wanted to take the kids down to Santa Cruz for a quick one-night/two-day trip to hang a the beach, visit the Boardwalk, and possibly surf (although that part proved unsuccessful with 2 kids in tow). I made VERY last minute reservations with Pelican Point Inn after reading other reviews on Yelp and another site. Ann was extremely friendly and offered us a wonderful one bedroom suite that had a twin bed and sofa in the living room - perfect for our family of 4. I wasn't sure what time we would be arriving and she basically said that we could come any time and just give her a call when we were close to the area so she could make sure everything was ready for us, even if we arrived before the traditional check-in time. I loved the fact that parking was right outside the room, making it easy to haul the kids and all the gear into our suite. The kitchenette, complete with 2-burner gas range, micro, fridge, coffeemaker and all the necessary supplies (glasses, plates, flatware, coffee, creamer, etc.) was a blessing. With two small kids you have to have snacks and drinks handy at all times! It was small but well appointed, clean, and looked to be recently updated. The bathroom was newly updated with granite counter, clean/updated shower over bathtub, and plenty of space so we weren't all on top of each other. My only complaint would be that both the kitchen and bathroom sinks were a bit on the small side. I loved that hubby and I had our own room so we could put the kiddos down at their regular bedtime and retreat to our room to watch a little TV together and share a late night snack. I was also happy to be out of the immediate area of the Boardwalk, which tends to be a little sketchier at night. Not ideal for families. We were a quick drive to both the Boardwalk and Capitola, which we visited briefly to run into the mall for sweatpants for the boys which I forgot to pack. The inn is just a few short blocks for a public beach access point that we visited our first day there. Beautiful neighborhood. Easy access, lifeguard on duty (a plus with small kiddos), clean, and family friendly. I will DEFINITELY be returning the next time we plan a trip to Santa Cruz! Thanks, Ann, for making our short family vacation a fun and memorable one! read more

I like the spacious, comfortable suite! Ours had two bedrooms and a small kitchenette. The bed was cozy and it wasn't too noisy, despite being on a relatively busy road. The parking lot is small but sufficient. I was somehow under the misapprehension that this was a bed and breakfast. It's just a bed. The bathroom has a window, which I LOVE, and is clean and modern. I really liked the liquid handsoap provided--hotels usually have those tiny bar soaps that don't really do anything, but this soap smelled wonderful and lathered up beautifully. There were two small TVs, but we didn't turn either of them on. The floor could have used a mopping before we got there, but it wasn't terrible. The beds weren't made (all the bedding was stripped) when we checked in, but one of the ladies came in right behind us with the sheets and blankets. It was a little awkward to be bringing our suitcases in as she's making the bed, but we made it work. I would stay here again! read more

Less than 15 rooms. Quiet place. Great for families or overnight travers. Most rooms have two beds and I believe many rooms have kitchens. An apartment size fridge. Two gas burner. Full set of dishes. Fantastic accommodations. Great location 1.5 miles (10 minutes) from Beach Boardwalk. Second time back. Great for those who have special food needs , like making sandwiches / cereal to save on meals. read more

This wonderful little place is one of the most pleasant hotels for the price that I've stayed at anywhere in the country. The owner/operator is extremely pleasant, helpful, and accomodating. Considering they allow dogs, this is hands-down the best pet-friendly hotel I've seen. Both the decor and the service are a lot like staying in someone's home than a moderately priced hotel. They have real furniture, real beds, and hardwood floors. It is a very short walk to a great beach. My son attends UC Santa Cruz so I stay in the area frequently -- from now on, it's nothing but Pelican Point for me. read more

The most fabulous place you can Stay at while in Santa Cruz. Pet friendly and the staff were extremely accommodating and welcoming. Close to beaches and great coffee in room. Thank you AnneMarie read more

Just had my third stay at this lovely little inn. The rooms are clean and the beds comfortable. Each room has a well-appointed kitchen. The bathrooms have tubs, which is appreciated after a long day of surfing nearby Pleasure Point! There's also free wifi and cable TV. I've never been bothered by noise from the adjacent rooms, and always slept well. It's just a block to Twin Lakes Beach, and a better-than-average taqueria is right across the street. For all this, the rates are extremely reasonable. But the reason I keep returning, and now joined Yelp and am writing this glowing review, is the friendly, conscientious owner, Ann. She really goes out of her way to make your experience there a positive one. Ann is just a great person! Look forward to my next chance to get away to The Pelican Point Inn! read more

The rooms are lovely - I think that they were renovated somewhat recently. We checked into one of the studio rooms (cheapest room) and was surprised by the huge bed and mini kitchen. We usually check into the Paradox Inn when visiting Santa Cruz, but we wanted to stay somewhere less expensive this time. We definitely made the right choice, as the room was much nicer at Pelican Point Inn than the new/hip Paradox Inn. In addition, it's only a ten minute walk to the beach. I would recommend reserving one of the larger rooms so that you're not under another room (the larger rooms are one story, whereas the smaller ones are 2 story). The people in the room above ours were not too loud, but you can hear when they walk around or move any furniture. Overall we would definitely stay here again! read more

I think I have made a good friend! Ann is so kind! When I visit my daughter here, I stay at Pelican. The staff is outstanding and it feels more like home ! Thanks, Ann! read more

Great rooms and great location (walking distance to beach, restaurants, markets, etc.) but what really sets The Pelican Point Inn apart from its competitors is the staff/ownership. They are incredibly professional and helpful. I have stayed there many times and I always enjoy my stay. Highly recommended. read more

The online pics of this Inn don't truly reflect the modern vibe of their rooms. This Inn is really nice and is a block from the beach.

Very clean, a tight fit, on a noisy highway right in the middle of everything. I opted for the Pelican Point Inn because we usually stay in a VRBO in the redwoods by the Mystery Spot,but its a haul to the beach and other destinations. This time I wanted to see what it would be like to be in the thick of things....it was awesome! Our own beach just steps away where we could view the sunrise, sunset or just get our feet wet and walk in the sand with the sounds of the crashing waves all around. We were about halfway between the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk and the cute little town of Capitola. There were eating spots within walking distance, the marina in biking distance-really everything we were looking for. Bob was less then 10 minutes from the Capitola pier for early morning fishing as I took advantage of sleeping in...a very comfortable bed I might add. The staff and owner were very accommodating and gave us plenty of recommendations for good eating spots, as well as directions to local attractions we'd never been to before. We had so much fun I hated for it to end. There was pretty much a full kitchen, but we really didn't take advantage of it accept for the coffee maker and the fridge, you know for snacks and breakfast items-but it was fully stocked with pots, pans and the like. Pelican Point Inn, a friendly, clean, place in the heart of what Santa Cruz and the Pacific Ocean have to offer! read more

We called to book appointment in May for 2 bedroom suite #9 with dog, they do not have online booking option, but was sent e-mail confirmation from Ann and was fine. There are NO ocean views on site, even on the top balcony rooms#8,9. This is all about location, location, location. We found this to be the perfect location for several things. Located between the Santa Cruz boardwalk and Capitola (Target, Gayle's bakery) there were not as many vagrants and not much of a "party scene" vs main st Santa Cruz. No breakfast served, but the Windmill Cafe opened at 7am was perfect for us, with a donut place not too far up the road. Rooms were small and tight, but beds were comfortable with memory foam pillow top and pillows. The bedrooms have doors that close for more sound protection, but love making will be heard by neighbors, so plan accordingly. I feel bad for room 6 and 7 and underneath, with hardwood floors they hear upstairs walking. Traffic noise is noticeable with windows open, but blends in and becomes white background noise. Some peeling paint on walls and #9 suite 2nd bedroom the heater is missing, so if you are going in cold season, make sure you get room#8, but warm weather should be fine. On a busy street, careful on the crosswalks, many cars will NOT stop, assume they will run you over. Saturday has a near by Farmer's market at the strip mall was fantastic! The next door tacqueria was cheap and filling, but closed Sun. The Aloha hawaiian place was a great walkable lunch option as well as a near by strip mall with small bakery and US Meal diner and laundry mat. 2 blocks from the small private beach did not have many visitors vs the beach near the Crow's Nest and Capitola was packed. They charge $20 per day dog cleaning fee regardless if they clean daily or not. Kitchen was small, enough silverware and place setting for 3 people, bowls are small and shallow, would recommend bringing a microwave safe large bowl. Cooking a dinner for more than 2 people would be challenging. No doggie provisions provided like blanket and bowls, so bring your own. Again, you are paying for location and not amenities. Wifi was horribly slow DSL speed, streaming movies was out of the question, barely handled regular e-mail and web browsing if there are more than 3-4 people online (wake up early to use). All the negatives are thrown out the window, because my dog and family had a blast and the location made a perfect middle base camp for all our activities. read more

I wish I could give the Pelican point 6 stars. My family of 4 stayed here for a night on April 7. We had Room 9 which was a a very clean 2 bedroom with a smal kitchen, hardwood floors, queen beds, and a nice bathroom. We had no reservation and decided on this location from other Yelp reviews. The owner was very nice and freindly, the price was very reasonable (150.00/nt incl taxes). A 1 block walk to the beach and a great coffee shop (the Windmill) next door. We hope to go back again for a longer time. Santa Cruz is great. read more

So the place was clean, had a good location and the lady at the front desk was nice. But I'm only giving it two stars because the room we were in (#6) was located on the ground floor and we could hear EVERY SINGLE FOOTSTEP from the upstairs room. But the people upstairs weren't partying or being obnoxious at all, they were simply walking! Something needs to be done - we barely slept. I've been in other places like this with rooms located on the ground level with people staying upstairs and I've never had such a crappy night. But since we were only staying one night, it was raining and our 2 kids were with us so I was too lazy to ask the lady to change the room. NEVER AGAIN! read more

Uhhh...well, I'm really not sure how to rate this place. Strangely enough, as most of the other commenters have stated, when I called there was also 'only one room left' for the night I needed. Due to a car-B-Q in hwy 17, my friend and I arrived a little later than planned (about 7pm) and the office was closed (don't be mislead by the hours listed on the website) with a sign reading "Be back at 9". Someone came out of a nearby room and said to just call the number taped to the door for help. When I called a helpful lady answered and the odd thing was I swear I heard an echo as if she was in the room I was standing next to (and also the one the lady who told me to call the number had just entered, leaving the door open). Anyway, I was standing in the parking lot spelling my name 4 different times to clarify the reservation I had made months earlier when finally the lady said "well, if you aren't Ben (?) then you must be in #4...the key is {she told me the secret location of the room key}. See you in the morning". Okay...it's dark, it's a MOTEL, there's junk piled up outside the office and old furniture leaning against the building, it appears people reside here (which is a little creepy to me) and no one is going to check us in and we aren't even really sure this is our room (since the lady couldn't grasp what my name was). I get the key and enter the strangest room ever...honestly, by the description and pics on the website I was a little worried that this place would be too 'romantic' in appearance for me and my friend to stay in but since it had 2 beds I figured it would be cool. Well, the second bed is IN the living room. It's an old hospital roll-away bed. Seriously. Lots of mismatched furniture. However...the kitchen and bathroom are beautiful...all new with granite and new appliances. The bedroom was weird in a way I couldn't place at first. Then I realized that none of the walls had pictures and the paint was high gloss (glare anyone). Also, there are these strange window treatments (kinda formal looking with cornice boxes). Just gave it a strange vibe, especially for Santa Cruz (come on...a beach theme would be nice). A quick check on line confirmed that there was no availabilty anywhere else near by so we made the best of it. Now, on the PLUS side...for Santa Cruz (and very near the beach) it's realitively cheap ($200 on a Sat night w/taxes). It is literally right around the corner from the beach (Santa Cruz Harbor). It was clean (ish) and while I would have felt better to have been checked in personally I'm glad they made it easy to check in and check out after hours. There is an amazing liquor store about a block away. And although we didn't have a dog with us, it's pretty cool they allow pets. And finally, as bizarre as the little roll-away bed was I ended sleeping on it and had the best sleep ever. read more

What a wonderful gem! We were here for a weekend getaway with friends and this place was a great. Close to twin lakes and other beaches with a wonderful farmers market just a couple blocks away makes for a relaxing and fun beach weekend. Away from the crowds of downtown SC and the Boardwalk allows you to relax a bit. The staff was pleasant and the room was really clean! Love that there's a fridge and mini kitchenette. One downside is that you are on a main road and traffic picks up around 9:30..so if you're a late starter..then maybe you might want to close your window. Overall...a wonderful experience and will be return in the future. read more

We found this place last minute on a weekday night. Called after reading reviews on Yelp and wasn't disappointed. They gave us a 20$ discount on their regular rate and were very friendly and helpful. We had a great one bed suite and the fridge and coffee maker came in handy. Bed was very comfortable, linens impeccable, bathroom with wonderful Full Size body wash and shampoo/conditioner of a brand I have never seen but my skin and hair thanked me. Rooms were great, the reason i'm taking off one star is i was able to hear my upstairs hotel mates crystal clear. They had a dog, and it sounded like a herd of elephants were parading around. Thank goodness they turned in early, but I can see how that would be a problem. Rugs maybe? read more

Been here for the Ironman 70.3 and stay here for a night. Stay in cabin #3. 2 bedroom 1bathrooms The place was very clean and the beds were just perfectly comfortable for the rest I need before my race. The staff here is super friendly. The location just 2 blocks from a amazing beach. What else do you need?!? read more

Great quality, especially for being so close to the beach. I usually expect beach hotels to feel run down by the elements, and this felt fresh and new. Ideal location. Best value for money I've ever seen in Santa Cruz. read more

Booked this motel for my husband's birthday weekend for a little getaway and we really enjoyed our stay. The room was very clean and had a fully stocked kitchen. There is an outside patio area (yes, it is directly in front of your room aka the parking lot) with chairs and a table for you to get some fresh sea air if you'd like. We stayed in one of the smaller rooms but found it to be comfortable. Also, the fact that they allow dogs was a major selling point for us. Only reason I am not giving 5 stars is due to the fact that we were told we could check in early but upon arrival we had to wait for quite some time. Not a deal breaker but was not what was promised. Overall, I highly recommend this motel and will definitely be back. read more

If I was rating based on their customer service, they would get a 5. However; I have to base my rating on the amenities provided. My family of 5 and our dog stayed in room #6 which was a 2 bedroom downstairs unit. The check-in process was wonderful, I had a great conversation with the gal at the front desk. I was VERY disappointed when we walked into our room. I had called the day before our trip to confirm if the kitchenette had pots/pans/glasses, etc. The owner Ann said it was a fully stocked kitchen, no need to bring anything. There was 1 small pot, 1 small frying pan, 4 mismatched forks and only 2 bowls!! We were able to get 2 medium sized pots and had to cook our dinner in small batches. Oh, and there is no oven. We ran out of toilet paper the first night, as there was only half a roll in the bathroom and no extras. The office was closed until 10am the next morning, but we were able to get some from the housekeeping. The beds were VERY comfortable. We could here noise from the upstairs unit, but it wasn't disruptive at all. read more

We drove into Santa Cruz last night after midnight. I called and the lady that answered was super friendly. She had 1 room left. The bed was very comfortsble, the room was nice and quiet. We slept so good. We were able to get rested up to continue our road trip. read more