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 54 of 95
The waterfront Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is popular with business travelers and families for a downtown location and well-priced rooms and suites.
The Cheesecake Factory added 17 items to their made-from-scratch menu including new cheesecake flavors, salads, a plant-based burger and more.
How to buy tickets, what to eat, ride details, and more for a successful visit to Universal Studios Singapore on Sentosa Island.
A review of our stay at The Towers at Lotte New York Palace, a New York City luxury hotel, that is actually two hotels in one. We go over rooms, dining, what you need to know.
What to expect when attending the LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat Monster Party including activities, tickets, ride lines, costumes, treat stations and more.
A list of the best things to do in Paris including favorite museums, what to eat and where to shop, written in partnership with Air France.
It’s thought they guide spirits of the dead back to altars created by the living.
Going to the zoo at night is cool but can mean a late night for kids. Here’s how to best navigate Night Safari Singapore.
What to know about La Valencia Hotel La Jolla including room types, location, guest feedback, restaurants and more.
