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
70 Funny Travel Quotes That Will Make You Laugh
Looking for inspiration and funny travel quotes? You'll get plenty of ideas if you just need to laugh or if you're searching for a funny travel caption. Make sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to this list quickly. Let’s look at the best funny travel...
The Most Interesting Travel Idioms And Expressions
As you travel the world, you’ll hear common travel expressions or travel idioms. An idiom is basically a common expression that means something different from the literal meaning of the individual words. As a non-native English speaker, I didn’t know a lot of idioms...
Complete Guide: Moving Abroad Packing List
Moving abroad soon? Deciding to move overseas is exciting! But, it also comes with a lot of preparation and organization. When I moved overseas in 2014, it was a rushed decision and I wasn’t prepared to leave indefinitely, and I had to come back to Canada two years...
Best Things To Do In Honolulu At Night
Honolulu is not just the capital of Hawaii. It’s home to most of Oahu’s population and is a thriving cosmopolitan city that attracts over 9 million tourists each year. Aside from the postcard beaches, there are many things to do in Honolulu, such as surfing, hiking,...
Buying Guide: Best Baby Backpack Carrier For Hikers
If you plan to hit the trail and take your little one along for the ride, then a safe and ergonomically designed baby backpack is an essential piece of kit! While a sling or front carrier can be helpful for days out and about, you need to be able to see your feet when...
Canada Nightlife: The Best Party Cities In Canada
Most tourists and backpackers go to Canada for the beautiful nature and scenery of the National Parks, Niagara Falls, and the Rocky Mountains. However, the nightlife in Canada is well and truly alive. As well as being home to world-class clubs and bars, Canadian party...