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
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We’ve stayed at both Four Seasons hotels in Boston. Here’s why you should choose this one (Boylston Street) and how to upgrade your stay.
See why Crosby Street Hotel is my favorite in NYC’s SoHo and how we can upgrade your stay. My review.
Directions for getting to Coronado Island by car, public transportation, airport transfers, and ferry to enjoy this popular beach town. And what to know about parking.
What to buy for your LEGOLAND visit now that Costco has no ticket listed, and where to check if one comes back.
Learn which museums in La Jolla we love from MCSAD La Jolla to Birch Aquarium and a few hidden gems with free walking tours and exhibits!
San Diego Zoo goes all out during the summer Nighttime Zoo event with extra live entertainment. Here’s what to expect and tips for structuring your visit.
I’ll share why the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program is the best way to book your Four Seasons stays and how you can access it at no additional cost.
Before you book your stay at Sheraton La Jolla, read my in-depth review to learn about the hotel and ensure it’s the best place for your trip.
Costco is selling a San Diego Zoo Safari Park pass online to its members, but no tickets to the San Diego Zoo itself. Here is the lowest price for either park without a membership.
