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
How Many Days In Cairo Is Enough?
If you’re wondering how many days in Cairo you will need to explore Egypt's capital city located on the banks of the River Nile keep reading! It is a land of contrast, with lush vegetation along its shoreline, soaring skyscrapers in the background, and a captivating...
How Many Days In Morocco Is Enough?
The North African country of Morocco fascinates visitors from all over the world with its incredible diversity. In this post, we will help you figure out exactly how many days in Morocco is enough to get a true taste of the Moroccan culture! With the Atlantic Ocean to...
The Best Places For Hiking Near Lisbon
Besides being a vibrant capital city with a rich culture and arts scene, Lisbon offers plenty of outdoor activities and is surrounded by beautiful nature. As a result, there are plenty of places to go hiking near Lisbon, such as the medieval town of Sintra and the...
The Best Places For Hiking Near Porto
Porto is a magnificent city, full of history and wonder, and one of Portugal's 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As a result, there are many great places for hiking near Porto along with impressive ancient sights here, including São Francisco Church and Bolsa...
How Many Days In Seville Is Enough?
One of Andalucia's most famous cities, sun-soaked Seville has a rich culture and an artistic heritage. So how many days in Seville do you need to see the best of its historical attractions and experience its mix of traditional and contemporary culture?! This...
How Many Days In Munich Is Enough?
How many days in Munich do you need to see the best of its attractions? Can you get a real feel for the city's atmosphere in a 2-night stay or should you plan for a longer visit? With a global reputation for good beer and famous for its yearly Oktoberfest celebration,...