Trusted Travel Advice. Local Insight. Global Perspective.
At La Jolla Mom®, our mission is to simplify your travel planning through a seamless blend of curated recommendations, cutting-edge hotel booking tools, exclusive perks, and trusted local insight. From discounted theme park tickets to luxury hotel stays, we help you save time, reduce stress, and travel smarter.
While San Diego remains our specialty—most of our team lives or has lived here—we also provide VIP benefits and personalized support at top-tier hotels and destinations around the world.
Our Story & Expertise
La Jolla Mom was founded by Katie Dillon in 2009, following seven years abroad in London and Hong Kong—including an extended residency at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Upon returning to La Jolla, she launched the site to share a thoughtful perspective on luxury family travel, shaped by personal experience and an insider’s understanding of high-end hospitality.
What began as a personal journal evolved in response to reader demand. As questions poured in—from visitors planning their first San Diego vacation to locals seeking better ways to enjoy their own city—it became clear there was a need for trusted, on-the-ground guidance. In response, Katie began creating the destination-focused content readers were asking for, leading to the formation of La Jolla Living, LLC in 2011.
As the audience grew, so did the services. In 2017, we partnered with San Diego–based aRes Travel to offer verified discounts to top attractions like the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, and SeaWorld. In 2019, Katie became an affiliate of Cadence Travel, a Virtuoso® agency also based in La Jolla, enabling readers to book luxury hotels with insider benefits and personalized support.
This deeper focus on San Diego led naturally to a specialization in local hotels—especially the Hotel del Coronado, where Katie’s knowledge is widely recognized. Her extensive experience with the Four Seasons brand, shaped by firsthand stays and long-standing relationships, brings a level of insight that continues to inform both content and client service.
Though our name still reflects roots in motherhood and local storytelling, La Jolla Mom has become a trusted global travel resource—grounded in expertise, strengthened by partnerships, and guided by the personalized service that’s defined us from the beginning.
Why We’re Different: Our Unique Community and Editorial Values
La Jolla Mom is a trusted travel community shaped by firsthand experience and a deep insider network—including hotel staff and concierges, attraction teams, and 2,000+ clients—who keep our recommendations current, honest, and grounded in the real world.
San Diego expertise. Our top-ranked local guides—like San Diego with Kids—reflect lived experience and shaped by questions families actually ask. From seasonal itineraries to family hotel picks, no one knows San Diego travel like we do.
Luxury hotel access. We book top-tier hotels through programs like Virtuoso®, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, and Hyatt Prive—delivering insider benefits and seamless online booking.
Verified theme park discounts. Through our long-standing partnership with San Diego-based aRes Travel, we offer legitimate, discounted tickets to LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Zoo, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and other attractions.
Smart tech, human touch. Our booking tools let clients browse VIP perks and check availability in real time. Our team reviews every booking for accuracy, upgrades, and added value.
Proven reach and editorial integrity: We serve millions of travelers annually. Our reviews are based on firsthand stays, client feedback, or trusted advisor relationships—not press trips or pay-for-placement. [Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.]
Exclusive Access, Local and Beyond
These are just a few examples of how we help readers save time, access exclusive perks, and get more out of their vacations.
Our Team
Katie Dillon
Katie Dillon is the managing editor and owner of La Jolla Mom. She is also a travel advisor, a hotel expert, and has written most of the articles on this site. More from Katie.
Madeleine Collins
Madeleine Collins is a British, San Diego-based writer and editor who has been published in Marie Claire, The Hollywood Reporter, Cosmopolitan, and more. She writes and edits some of our articles. More from Madeleine.
Edward Castro
Edward helps keep our theme park ticket articles current with the latest prices and information. He also used to work at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Tonya Waite
A lot goes on behind the scenes here. Tonya works on our hotel side to keep our bookings organized and liaises with hotels. She is a travel advisor with a CTA from The Travel Institute.
We have a lot of help behind the scenes, so stay tuned for more team introductions.
How We Earn — Our Services
For additional details on all of our offerings, please visit our comprehensive Services Page.
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Hotel Bookings
When you book hotels through us—either directly or via our online booking tools (TravelWits and Virtuoso.com)—you receive access to exclusive VIP perks. Hotels pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. Many advisors charge for this access, but we do not.
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Website Ads & Affiliate Revenue
We earn revenue through affiliate links when you book select hotels, theme park tickets, and other travel services or gear through lajollamom.com links. Our tickets.lajollamom.com ticket site is powered by aRes Travel, who provides our guests with a dedicated support phone line. Our partners meet strict standards for quality, privacy, and security. This revenue helps keep our content updated and free to read.
Client Testimonials
In the Press
A few fun appearances. Katie has also written extensively about San Diego for USA Today 10Best and Pacific San Diego (now San Diego Union-Tribune).
Contact Us
La Jolla Living, LLC (La Jolla Mom)
888 Prospect Street, Suite 200
La Jolla, CA 92037
Email (fastest response): contact@lajollamom.com
Phone: (858) 346-7888
Our Commitment to You:
We’re dedicated to transparency, accuracy, and continuously improving our travel guidance. Please feel free to reach out—we’d love to hear from you!
Last updated: July 13, 2025
