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 30 of 95
A list of the best things to do in Anaheim, California besides Disneyland, for kids and adults, day trips, night and day fun, from breweries to baseball.
Learn everything you want to know about eating Chinese hot pot including how to make it at home.
Where to eat, drink, camp and sightsee in Julian, Ca a popular day trip from San Diego.
Find the best things to do in Las Vegas with kids on the Strip and off including how to save money on attractions and best family hotels.
Find boutique, resort, or budget hotels near San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido to relax in after your day at the park and what to know before booking.
Find reliable ways to buy discount Kings Island tickets for the theme park and Soak City through authorized sellers for the best deal off of gate prices.
I’ve tracked LEGOLAND ticket prices at all three U.S. parks for years, so I know which authorized sellers discount them and by how much. Here’s what LEGOLAND Florida should cost you right now, and the best ticket for your trip.
Hilton hotels in San Diego are located all over the county. Learn which are the best, on the beach, in the Gaslamp or bayfront, and why I like them.
My picks for best Little Italy, San Diego hotels are boutique and extended stay options that put you near the city’s best dining, shopping and attractions.
