Sharon Gourlay

Sharon Gourlay

Founder of Dive Into Malaysia

Expertise Malaysia travel, travel planning, travel booking

Education Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Griffith University, Certificate III in International Travel Sales from AFTA Education and Training, Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University

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Highlights:

  • Featured in many publications including USA Today, Qantas, Families Magazine Australia, Daily Mail and more
  • Speaker at numerous travel blogging conferences including Travel Blog Exchange (Tbex), Travel Blogging Summit and Travel Massive and is well known in the travel blogging community
  • Holds a BA in Asian studies including the Malay language, teaching and travel agent qualifications

Experience:

Sharon first fell in love with Malaysia in 2004 when she travelled up the west coast, eating everything available. This was further affirmed in 2015 when Sharon and her family, including two young kids, moved to Penang for a year. She doesn’t think anywhere could be better to live.

Sharon has travelled to 98 countries and spent many years of her life exploring the globe. This has lead to many skills from quickly working out the best way to travel from A to B to finding the best hotel. These days she primarily travels with her 3 children currently aged from 7 – 13 years old so she also has many family travel kid wrangling skills!

Sharon completed an arts degree majoring in Asian Studies at Griffith University. This included studying the Malay language and she loves learning more about the history and culture in this part of the world.

Her favourite part of Malaysia is Penang, closely followed by East Malaysia or Borneo as it’s often called.

When not writing for this site, Sharon is out exploring the world and everything Malaysia.

Education:

Sharon’s educational background enables her to share and teach you how to plan your own trip to Malaysia as easily as possible. Her travel qualification enables her to work as a qualified travel agent and has meant she has learned many tips and tricks for booking travel. Her teaching qualification helps her explain it all to you here.

Her humanities degree has helped her love of everything history, language and culture and grown her appreciation for this part of the world.

You can read more about Sharon and her family here.

Sharon’s Guides To Malaysia

Episode 3: Why Kuala Lumpur Should Be Your First Stop In Malaysia

Episode 3: Why Kuala Lumpur Should Be Your First Stop In Malaysia

Heading to Malaysia? Fantastic! No doubt, you’ll want to visit the capital, Kuala Lumpur. So what should you do there?…

Episode 2: Absolutely Everything About Flying To Malaysia

Episode 2: Absolutely Everything About Flying To Malaysia

Getting ready to book your flights to Malaysia? Fantastic! But don’t do it until you listen to this first! Malaysia…

Kuantan sign on riverbank

15 Best Things To Do In Kuantan, Malaysia

Have the ultimate Kuantan trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Kuantan, Malaysia so you…

Episode 1: Why You Should Visit Malaysia RIGHT NOW!

Episode 1: Why You Should Visit Malaysia RIGHT NOW!

Wondering if you should visit Malaysia next? Or heading to Malaysia and want to know what you have to look…

Driving in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur To Penang Taxi: Fares, Bookings And Everything You Need To Know

Looking to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Penang? Fantastic! Penang is such a great place and you’ll love it! The…

Singapore Malaysia Itinerary: Merlion Park and Singapore skyline

4-10 Day Singapore Malaysia Itinerary: Enjoy The Perfect Singapore And Malaysia Trip!

Planning a Singapore and Malaysia trip and need a Singapore and Malaysia Itinerary? Read the perfect plan for 4+ days…

Kuala Lumpur

Best Weekend Getaways Malaysia!!! The 11 Best Trips From Singapore And KL

Need the best weekend getaway in Malaysia? We can help! Find our best options whether you are flying in, travelling…

Malaysia Airlines business class seat

Malaysia Airlines Business Class Review A330-200: Is It Worth It?

Thinking about trying out Malaysia Airlines business class and wondering what it’s like? Want to know if it’s worth your…

premium flatbed airasia x

Premium Flatbed AirAsia✈️. Worth The Money? AirAsia Flatbed Reviews

Want to see what AirAsia flatbed premium is like? Read our full AirAsia Flatbed review to see what you get…

Putrajaya Kuala Lumpur

Top 10 Best Hotels In Putrajaya [Book Them Now]

Looking for the best hotels in Putrajaya? We have all the top recommendations for the best hotels in Putrajaya area…

car parking at Batu Caves

KL To Batu Caves: Exactly How To Get To Batu Caves

Seen the stunning, colourful pictures of Batu Caves and want to check it out on your Malaysian holiday? Great choice!…

PARKROYAL Collection Kuala Lumpur

PARKROYAL KL Review: Everything You Need To Know About This New Collection Hotel

Looking for a fabulous place to stay in Kuala Lumpur in a super convenient location? Here’s a great option for…

Kuala Terengganu Central Market

Top 7 Best Homestay Kuala Terengganu!

Looking for the best homestay in Kuala Terengganu? You are in luck – there are some great choices! We have…

Genting Highlands cable car

Cable Car Genting Highlands: All About Taking The Awana Skyway

Heading to the Genting Highlands and heard the best way to get there is via cable car? I have to…

Laguna Redang Island Resort review

Laguna Redang Island Resort Review

Looking for a great resort in Redang? Read our full Laguna Redang Island Resort review with everything you want and…

Traders Hotel KL Views from my Tower View Room

Traders Hotel KL Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

If there is one hotel in Malaysia that I have wanted to stay in for awhile, is the Traders Hotel…

Pasir Bogak beach on Pangkor Island

17 Top Things To Do In Pangkor Island, Malaysia

Have the best Pangkor Island trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Pangkor Island, Malaysia…

Air Asia Premium Red Lounge klia2

AirAsia Premium Red Lounge Review And Overview

Wondering if it’s worth going to the AirAsia Premium Red Lounge? Click here for our full AirAsia Lounge KLIA2 review…

A back view of the AVI Pangkor Beach Resort

AVI Pangkor Beach Resort Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Looking for a top place to stay on Pangkor Island, close to beaches, the ferry and everything else you need?…

Absolutely gorgeous Emerald Bay

Top 10 Best Hotel In Pangkor [Full Comparison]

Looking for the best hotel in Pangkor Island? We have all the top recommendations for the best hotels in Pulau…

Infinity Pool at Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre

Holiday Inn Johor Bahru Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

On my most recent trip to Johor Bahru, I was travelling from Singapore for the night before moving on and…

Berjaya Tioman Resort Review

Berjaya Tioman Resort Review

Looking for a great resort on Tioman? Read our full Berjaya Tioman Resort review with everything you want and need…

Kuala Ibai Beach, Terengganu

Top 10 Best Beach Resorts In Terengganu

Looking for the best beach resorts in Terengganu? We have all the top recommendations for the best beach resorts in…

Langkawi SkyBridge

Top 20 Best Things To Do In Malaysia [Malaysia Bucket List]

Top 20 things to do in Malaysia for your bucket list from the most adventurous things to do in Malaysia…