Travel Advisor & La Jolla Mom Owner
Favorite Place in San Diego
La Jolla Cove area
Favorite theme park
San Diego Zoo (Disneyland, a close second)
Favorite hotel
Four Seasons Hong Kong
Hi, I’m Katie Dillon. I’ve lived in beautiful La Jolla, California, for a long time, dating back to when I was a student at UC San Diego.
I’ve left only a few times (once to live in Del Mar). My husband and I were expats in London and Hong Kong for seven years. My daughter was born in Hong Kong. We bought and renovated our house in La Jolla while overseas (I don’t recommend this) and then eventually moved in. Each of these moves has defined this site.
I started La Jolla Mom as a place to write about lifestyle and motherhood topics to keep my brain active. It evolved into a travel business after I began covering tips for flying with kids and reviewing hotels we stayed in.
Living in a hotel apartment in Hong Kong is not unusual, so that’s what we did, and we stayed a lot longer in the hotel than most people do. It just happened to be Four Seasons Hong Kong. I’m very loyal to the brand because of our over four years in that fabulous property. And, I know a lot about hotels.
Eventually, readers started asking me for advice on San Diego travel. I added tips and things to do — becoming a resource for visitors and locals. (I’m a certified San Diego destination specialist by our tourism board.) San Diego has four of the nation’s best theme parks, so people started asking me for ways to buy discounted tickets.
I partnered with aRes Travel in Pacific Beach, down the hill from my house, to offer people cheaper tickets. I also aligned myself with Cadence Travel in La Jolla (where I am in the top 20% of advisors for 2024, 2023, and 2022) to bring travelers VIP hotel perks in San Diego and beyond.
That’s how I wound up covering our three main topics: San Diego, theme parks, and hotels. I want you to get the most out of your trip—whether by saving on tickets, enjoying added hotel perks, or using our resources to self-plan—so you always feel your vacation or day out is worth your time and money.
Recent Writing
Page 11 of 95
What to know before visiting the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego, including admission, paintings to see, and more.
Reliable tips for saving money on Worlds of Fun admission from authorized sellers.
Sure, we’ll tell you where to get Mexican food but there’s so much more to eat in Old Town San Diego like Michelin star sushi, Italian, and even Venezuelan.
What to do on Fiesta Island San Diego from off-leash dog fun to picnics and bird watching on Mission Bay. Also, parking tips and amenities, too.
Reliable tips for saving money on Newport Aquarium tickets so that you don’t waste time on deals and coupons that don’t work.
What to know before visiting the Whaley House Museum in San Diego including admission, insider tips, not to miss highlights, and more.
Discover top shops in Old Town San Diego for one-of-a-kind gifts and stores with personality. Go shopping while you sightsee!
Find the best prices on Hershey’s Chocolate World tickets to popular experiences like Create Your Own Candy Bar and the Historical Trolley Tour.
The four hotels on Shelter Island itself, with the water views, room types, and fees for each, plus where to stay in the surrounding Point Loma neighborhood.
