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
Fun Day Trips In Georgia
If you decide to visit Georgia and have only daily plans, Kakheti is the best choice. I think that the best time to visit this place is Autumn because nature is the most impressive. It is a region formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of...
Travel Guide: The Best Temples In Bali
Wondering which are the best temples in Bali? With so many Bali temples to pick from, it's understandable. In this post, we created a list of the most beautiful temples in Bali to help you plan your itinerary. Note that you may want to read our tips about visiting...
Travel Guide To Orlando
Orlando is famous globally for its creative and joyful places to visit. Most people prefer to visit it during their holidays because of its many attractions. There are world-class lures, shops, restaurants, and entertainment options, here. You might get confused about...
Complete Guide: Where To Stay In Ella, Sri Lanka
Planning your trip to Ella, Sri Lanka? We got your back. If you are wondering where to stay during your holidays in Ella, here are our recommendations for every budget - from hostels to luxury hotels. In this post, we will talk about the best places to stay in Ella -...
Best Snorkeling Trip From Koh Lanta
Are you thinking of going on a snorkeling trip in Koh Lanta? Koh Lanta is a beautiful Thai island located in the Andaman Sea and is easily accessible since it’s not too far from Krabi. Koh Lanta is well known for its chill vibes, long white sand beaches and its boat...
The Prettiest Caribbean Islands
With over 700 islands that make up the Caribbeans, how do you choose which one to spend your vacation on? First, you should think about your needs. Are you going with your significant other, your best girlfriends, or your family? Planning to lay on the beach all week...