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 87 of 95
Why placing a pair of Mandarin orange or kumquat trees in your doorway during Chinese New Year might just bring good fortune.
I address the health benefits of lemon water versus lime water and come to a conclusion about which is better to drink.
A family vacation in Puerto Rico involves rainforest, gorgeous beaches and less hassle than other Caribbean islands.
West Inn and Suites is definitely one of San Diego’s most pet-friendly hotels
As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisor, I share what you need to know before booking Four Seasons Hotel Seattle.
Singapore is one of the world’s most family-friendly cities. Here is what to do with kids, from the Mandai wildlife parks to Sentosa, plus where to stay and how to plan.
Lung King Heen at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is likely the most exquisite Chinese food you’ll ever have. Here’s why.
I live on Mount Soledad in La Jolla. Learn about the cross, veterans memorial, things to do nearby, directions, history, and more in my guide.
The Stuart Collection at UC San Diego is an impressive collection of 18 public art pieces that are integrated into campus landscape and buildings.
