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
Hot Air Balloon Cost: What You Need To Know
Imagine soaring through the air in a hot air balloon ride. Once the basket lifts off the ground, you will instantly feel like you’re floating. There is no resistance or swaying back and forth, instead, the balloon moves with the wind making the ride perfectly still...
Perfect 2 Day In Prague Itinerary
The capital city of the Czech Republic is one of Europe’s most visited cities thanks to its awe-inspiring architecture, cultural heritage, and bohemian charm. Here you will find stunning historic castles, baroque and gothic cathedrals, medieval squares, and beautiful...
Perfect 2 Days In Singapore Itinerary
Singapore is a popular stopover destination for travelers looking to break up a long-haul journey. Most visitors will only spend one or two days in Singapore. Even so, if you’re short on time, you can still make the most of this modern metropolis. Singapore is...
European Beds: Full Guide To Bed Sizes In Europe
American tourists traveling to Europe and staying in European hotels can be quite perplexed by European beds sometimes. Being used to booking the standard single, twin rooms, or double rooms in the United States, they don’t fully understand what they are getting into...
How Many Days In Amsterdam Is Enough?
Are you wondering how many days in Amsterdam to see all of the city's major attractions and soak up its endlessly vibrant atmosphere? Well, that depends very much on whether you prefer a packed itinerary - where you fill every moment with new sights and experiences -...
Perfect 2 Days In Barcelona Itinerary
Barcelona is one of the most famous European city breaks due to its beachfront location, fantastic architecture, and thriving nightlife. It's also one of the most happening cities in Spain, where you will never run out of things to do. Even so, if you only have...