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
Wise Vs Paypal: Which Is The Best?
Wondering what's the differences between Wise and Paypal? Below, you'll find our full review on both platforms. Gone are the days where you relied on high-street banks to send payments overseas or convert your hard-earned cash into travel money. These days, more and...
Complete Guide: Long-Term Rentals In Playa Del Carmen
Moving to Playa del Carmen soon? Whether you’re planning on staying there for a few weeks or a few months, we got you. In this guide, we’ll help you find long-term rentals in Playa del Carmen. We’ll also share our experience finding an apartment for our arrival as...
How Does Wise Work? And Why Every Traveler Needs It
Searching for a solution to send money abroad easily? How about a multi-currency account? In this post, we'll tell you exactly how Wise works. One of the biggest problems for travelers overseas is accessing their money. Withdrawing money using your bank's debit card...
Best Cozumel Beach Clubs
Visiting a beach club gives you an all-in-one experience, where you can enjoy good food, drinks, plus a range of water sports and beach activities. In this article, you'll discover the 5 best beach clubs in Cozumel, with a rundown of the amenities on offer and...
Best Time To Visit Cozumel
Cozumel is a true Caribbean paradise, famed for its world-class dive spots and stunning beaches. It's also a short ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, making for a popular add-on to any Mexico vacation or backpacking trip. However, like the whole of Quintana Roo,...
Best Beaches In Cozumel
Looking for the perfect beach in Cozumel, Mexico, to swim with your children, or the best spot to jump on your board and catch the waves? The wonderful thing about this charming island is that you can easily do both! On the west side, the waters are calm, making...