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 84 of 95
If my dog could type, here’s what would be on his list of favorite things to do with dogs around La Jolla from parks to shopping to restaurants.
What you need to know about spending the day at Del Beach at Hotel del Coronado where rentals are available for day and overnight guests.
What this resort is actually like, who it fits, why booking through Hyatt Privé makes a real difference, and which room category to actually book.
Liven up your weekend with brunch at these La Jolla restaurants offering bottomless mimosas and/or champagne.
Spend a half-day in Cambridge where there are plenty of things to do at Harvard University with younger kids. And, you’ve got to check out where we ate.
The spa at Four Seasons Hotel Beijing threw my daughter an epic surprise birthday party.
Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter will be serving special Comic-Con cocktails. Make them at home with these recipes!
Learn why attending cooking school at Rancho La Puerta destination spa in Tecate, Mexico is a unique experience to put on your bucket list.
Learn why the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina is far more than just a hotel by the airport.
