About Melissa
Hello, I’m Mel!
I’m a Canadian travel blogger who has been traveling and living abroad since 2014.
Learn more about my story below.
Life before blogging
I’m originally from Quebec, Canada. Back in the days, I used to be a social worker. I used to travel once a year for about a month and I was always spending my summers in Europe since I was 20 years old.
In June 2014, I started my journey around the world at the age of 25.
Life on the road
I first started my journey in the Canadian Rockies, where I hitch-hiked my way around. Then, I moved to Australia for two years. I started A Broken Backpack in July 2015. Back then, I was working on a farm in Australia and needed something to stay entertained. Quickly, A Broken Backpack became popular.
After Australia, I decided to go on a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. Later, I moved to the UK for less than a year.
In October 2017, I decided to move to Southeast Asia. Bali became my home for about one and a half years.
In 2019, I was based mostly in Thailand.
In 2020, I moved to Bulgaria.
In 2022, I moved to Thailand, and it became my main base.
Of course, I do plan occasional trips in and out, but since I’m running an online business and a few successful blogs, I prefer slow travel.
This brings me to you
A Broken Backpack offers excellent travel tips to help you stay on the road longer. I left Canada with less than CAD 2,000 in my name (and many student debts).
I’m living proof that you don’t need tons of savings to make your travel dreams come true.
I learned how to travel on the very cheap, volunteered when I needed to, and created an online business to support myself abroad. I share all these tips here on A Broken Backpack.
I’m now in my thirties, and my travel style has evolved. I’m not all about budget travel anymore, and I now travel with my husband (we met in Thailand).
So, A Broken Backpack is not just a budget travel blog anymore. You’ll find all the travel tips needed to plan your dream trip no matter your travel style, budget, or interest.
Pick Your Travel Style
Living Abroad
Backpacking
Camping
Hiking
Digital Nomadism
Volunteering
Read my latest blog posts
Best Ultralight Binoculars For Hiking
Good lightweight binoculars for hiking are an essential piece for you when out on the trail. With natural beauty all around you, there will be multiple times when you will want to zoom in for a better look without disturbing the local wildlife. Ideally, binoculars for...
Buying Guide: Best Folding Camping Tables
Looking to find the best folding tables for camping? A folding table for camping is an essential piece of kit and it is something you will use multiple times per day so it will need to be strong and sturdy, yet lightweight and portable. There are so many different...
Hotel Room Food Ideas To Stay Healthy When Traveling
While it's fine to treat yourself now and again, especially while on vacation, traveling can throw your healthy lifestyle totally off balance. Finding healthy hotel room food ideas is often overlooked for the easier high-calorie restaurant meals and high-fat and...
Is Malaga Worth Visiting?
Welcome to the Costa del Sol, where travelers can discover gorgeous landscapes, beautiful beaches, turquoise blue waters, delicious food, and unique traditions and customs. But if you are heading over to Spain, you might be wondering, is Malaga worth visiting? ...
Is Pompeii Worth Visiting?
Even if you are not a history buff, you’ve probably heard of the doomed city of Pompeii. But, history aside, if you are traveling to this Italian region, you’ve probably asked yourself: is Pompeii worth visiting? Let’s begin with Mount Vesuvius, one of the most...
The Ultimate Greece Bucket List
Trying to create your perfect Greece bucket list? From its turquoise mediterranean sea to its picturesque villages and historical sites, Greece is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Many cities on the mainland, such as Athens, boast a rich...