The Pelican Cove Bed and Breakfast Inn was created in 1985 by Robert and Celeste Hale, who named it in honor of the beautiful pelicans who make their home in the Carlsbad coastal area. Kris and Nancy Nayudu purchased the inn in 1994 when they moved from Alaska for Kris' new job. The couple purchased it to allow Nancy to stay home with their two small children.
Almost 16 years later, Kris and Nancy agree that purchasing the Pelican Cove Bed & Breakfast Inn was one of the best decisions they could have made. The couple's success with the inn is reflected in their whole-hearted enthusiasm for the community that embraced them and in their sincere affection for their guests.
The Pelican Cove's typical guests are couples celebrating a special occasion — birthday, anniversary, wedding night — or visiting family in the area. Through the years, the Pelican Cove has built a steady clientele of people who come back year after year.
“They are some of the nicest people you could ever want to have stay with you,” Nancy Nayudu said. “Many come several times a year to escape the heat from the desert; many come for the events such as ArtSplash, the Village Faire, or the Carlsbad 5000. Some just come for a little R&R.”
Nancy and Kris are particularly delighted by the quality of friendships they have built with their clients. “The most wonderful surprise I have discovered in operating the Pelican Cove is the type of people that stay here; they truly become friends,” she said. “We meet their children, we see pictures of their pets, and sometimes we get to watch the progression of a relationship from dating to proposal to wedding to children. In turn, many have also watched our children grow up. I feel very lucky to be here in this beautiful city running the Pelican Cove.”
Nancy takes a lot of pride in making her accommodations plush and inviting for all her guests. The Pelican Cove's 10 guest rooms each have feather beds, fireplaces, private baths and private entrances. The four largest rooms have spa tubs.
Breakfast is where Nancy's creativity really shines. “We do some really fun breakfasts: peach-stuffed French toast, cottage cheese pancakes, hash brown quiche and scotch eggs.”
She has had some interesting responses to her inventive, delicious fare. “If the number of phone calls I get for Super Bowl Sunday, Easter, and Christmas, asking how to make some of the recipes is any indication, our guests' families are enjoying the recipes too!”
The Carlsbad environs are a beautiful backdrop for the Nayudus' hospitality. The Pelican Cove is walking distance to the Village and the beach. “I usually try to encourage guests to park the car and leave it,” Nancy said. “If they are exploring by car I have lots of Thomas guides I let them borrow to help them find their way. It is fun to get to know the guests and their interests so I can help them plan the perfect vacation. We have it all here in Carlsbad,” she said. “There's something for everyone.”
Over the years, the Nayudus have made few changes to the comfortable, welcoming bed and breakfast. The couple built a house right next to the inn to give the children a little more room, and to allow them to convert their former living area into two more guest rooms. They have added to the breakfast menu over the years, offering a bigger, more extravagant meal for their guests. Thoughtful conveniences such as wireless access, and boogie boards and beach chairs to loan have added to the overall feel of welcome accommodation that Pelican Cove's guests have treasured for years.
According to Nancy, for the most part, the Pelican Cove is exactly what they have worked to establish. “Our goal has always been to enhance a visitor's Carlsbad experience with friendly service and local knowledge,” she said.
Nancy and Kris know how hard many in the hospitality industry have been hit. They credit Carlsbad for their business success. “I am so glad we are small and live in an area that has remained a treasure. Carlsbad offers travelers choices in how to spend their dollars,” Nancy said. “You can grab a sandwich from the Grand Deli and take it to the beach or dine at Paon with a nice bottle of wine and a wonderful meal and spend a little more. The choice is so important to the consumer.”
Even though they came to Carlsbad from far-away Alaska, the Nayudus could not imagine living anywhere else. Nancy advises people who dream of opening a bed and breakfast to consider their example. “I talk to people who are thinking of opening a bed and breakfast and the advice I give them is that you need to have a natural attraction near you,” she said. “The beach and the weather here are our natural attraction. You just can't beat Carlsbad. The friendly people and small-town feel just add to the guests' experience.”
For Nancy, what started as a way for her to be with her small children has evolved into her passionate pursuit. “I feel that the hospitality industry is where I was meant to be. It is so rewarding when someone takes the time to do positive reviews for our bed and breakfast on the Internet. It is refreshing being in a business that caters to the type of people that will do that,” she said. “So often it is only a person who is upset or disappointed that will take the time to write a review. Another testament to my wonderful guests!”
Almost 16 years later, Kris and Nancy agree that purchasing the Pelican Cove Bed & Breakfast Inn was one of the best decisions they could have made. The couple's success with the inn is reflected in their whole-hearted enthusiasm for the community that embraced them and in their sincere affection for their guests.
The Pelican Cove's typical guests are couples celebrating a special occasion — birthday, anniversary, wedding night — or visiting family in the area. Through the years, the Pelican Cove has built a steady clientele of people who come back year after year.
“They are some of the nicest people you could ever want to have stay with you,” Nancy Nayudu said. “Many come several times a year to escape the heat from the desert; many come for the events such as ArtSplash, the Village Faire, or the Carlsbad 5000. Some just come for a little R&R.”
Nancy and Kris are particularly delighted by the quality of friendships they have built with their clients. “The most wonderful surprise I have discovered in operating the Pelican Cove is the type of people that stay here; they truly become friends,” she said. “We meet their children, we see pictures of their pets, and sometimes we get to watch the progression of a relationship from dating to proposal to wedding to children. In turn, many have also watched our children grow up. I feel very lucky to be here in this beautiful city running the Pelican Cove.”
Nancy takes a lot of pride in making her accommodations plush and inviting for all her guests. The Pelican Cove's 10 guest rooms each have feather beds, fireplaces, private baths and private entrances. The four largest rooms have spa tubs.
Breakfast is where Nancy's creativity really shines. “We do some really fun breakfasts: peach-stuffed French toast, cottage cheese pancakes, hash brown quiche and scotch eggs.”
She has had some interesting responses to her inventive, delicious fare. “If the number of phone calls I get for Super Bowl Sunday, Easter, and Christmas, asking how to make some of the recipes is any indication, our guests' families are enjoying the recipes too!”
The Carlsbad environs are a beautiful backdrop for the Nayudus' hospitality. The Pelican Cove is walking distance to the Village and the beach. “I usually try to encourage guests to park the car and leave it,” Nancy said. “If they are exploring by car I have lots of Thomas guides I let them borrow to help them find their way. It is fun to get to know the guests and their interests so I can help them plan the perfect vacation. We have it all here in Carlsbad,” she said. “There's something for everyone.”
Over the years, the Nayudus have made few changes to the comfortable, welcoming bed and breakfast. The couple built a house right next to the inn to give the children a little more room, and to allow them to convert their former living area into two more guest rooms. They have added to the breakfast menu over the years, offering a bigger, more extravagant meal for their guests. Thoughtful conveniences such as wireless access, and boogie boards and beach chairs to loan have added to the overall feel of welcome accommodation that Pelican Cove's guests have treasured for years.
According to Nancy, for the most part, the Pelican Cove is exactly what they have worked to establish. “Our goal has always been to enhance a visitor's Carlsbad experience with friendly service and local knowledge,” she said.
Nancy and Kris know how hard many in the hospitality industry have been hit. They credit Carlsbad for their business success. “I am so glad we are small and live in an area that has remained a treasure. Carlsbad offers travelers choices in how to spend their dollars,” Nancy said. “You can grab a sandwich from the Grand Deli and take it to the beach or dine at Paon with a nice bottle of wine and a wonderful meal and spend a little more. The choice is so important to the consumer.”
Even though they came to Carlsbad from far-away Alaska, the Nayudus could not imagine living anywhere else. Nancy advises people who dream of opening a bed and breakfast to consider their example. “I talk to people who are thinking of opening a bed and breakfast and the advice I give them is that you need to have a natural attraction near you,” she said. “The beach and the weather here are our natural attraction. You just can't beat Carlsbad. The friendly people and small-town feel just add to the guests' experience.”
For Nancy, what started as a way for her to be with her small children has evolved into her passionate pursuit. “I feel that the hospitality industry is where I was meant to be. It is so rewarding when someone takes the time to do positive reviews for our bed and breakfast on the Internet. It is refreshing being in a business that caters to the type of people that will do that,” she said. “So often it is only a person who is upset or disappointed that will take the time to write a review. Another testament to my wonderful guests!”