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
Complete Guide: Best Kayaking Gifts
Looking for the best gifts for kayakers? We've got you covered! Whether the person you're buying for is new to paddling or a seasoned pro, you'll easily find a thoughtful, practical, or fun gift to suit! Here are some great kayaking gifts and the reasons why we love...
Where To Stay In Budapest
To help you prepare for your trip, we listed the best areas to stay in Budapest to make sure you get the most out of your visit! It’s hard to put your finger on what it is exactly that makes people fall in love with Budapest. Is it the multi-faceted architectural...
Buying Guide: Best Camping Towels
It's important to choose the best towel for camping as regular towels can be bulky, heavy, and slow to dry. Camping towels or towels designed for travel take up less space and dry quickly, so you can be packed and ready to move on in no time. What To Look For...
Buying Guide: Best Camping Kettles
A good camping kettle may be one of your most important pieces of kit when you're out on the trail. In this guide, you'll learn what to look for in order to pick the best kettle for camping. Being able to safely boil water means you can have a hot drink whenever you...
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Traveling By Train
If you’re planning your next big trip and considering whether to travel by train, you need to know the main advantages and disadvantages of traveling by train. Traveling by train might not give you the same sense of freedom you'd get when traveling by car, but it can...
How Many Days In Tokyo Is Enough?
If you are planning a visit to Tokyo one main consideration is how many days in Tokyo will you need to see the crazy and colorful city that manages to be both fast-paced and modern, yet still firmly in touch with its traditional roots. There's simply such a wide...