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
The 5 Best Hidden Vacation Spots In The US
America is a vast country with diverse landscapes and cultures, and therefore, many places to explore. Maybe you feel that you have already seen much of the country. However, have you been off the beaten path in the United States? Let’s explore some of the best hidden...
Complete Guide: The Best Travel Planning Apps
Nowadays, there is an app for everything. However, some apps are more useful than others. For travelers, a travel planner app is an invaluable tool to have on your phone. Whether you're new to the travel life or are a seasoned traveler, you'll find that using travel...
Buying Guide: Best Backpacking Backpacks
This guide to the best backpacking backpacks has everything from lightweight packs that you can easily store in your luggage, to more robust packs that are ideal for a longer trek. Discover how to choose the backpack most suitable for you, in terms of comfort,...
75 Inspiring And Funny Travel Instagram Captions
Looking for inspiration for travel captions for Instagram? The list below includes a max of inspiring and funny Instagram travel caption, so you should get lots of ideas. To save time, make sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to this list easily. You can...
Best Places To Take Pictures Around The World
Travel brings with it many perks, one of which is seeing beautiful places. However, nowadays, many travelers are inspired to take photos around the globe. So much so that they find themselves looking for the best photo locations whenever they arrive in a new...
Buying Guide: Best Camping Tents For 4 People
If you are planning a night under the stars with your family - or a visit with friends to a festival - this selection of 4-people tent reviews should help you find just the right model for you! Each tent has its own unique features, whether it is the speed of...