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
How To Pick The Perfect Pair Of Glasses For A One-Way Trip
Choosing a pair of glasses for a long one-way trip can feel like a bit of a daunting task. If you are planning on traveling to parts of the world where you will not be able to replace them easily, picking the right pair is incredibly important. We have compiled a list...
Best Things To Do In Ella, Sri Lanka
If you’re planning your trip to Sri Lanka, make sure to add Ella to your itinerary. This cute town is an excellent base to explore the area and the tea country. In this guide, you’ll find information to help you plan your stay in Ella as well as the best things to do...
How To Get Visa Extension At The Immigration Office Krabi
Traveling around Thailand? If you love Thailand, you may want to extend your Thai Visa to stay longer. In the past years, I spent a lot of time in Thailand, and I had to extend my tourist visa a few times. I renewed my visa at Krabi Immigration Office once, and it was...
Travel Guide: Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Planning a trip to Nuwara Eliya? In this guide, you’ll find the information needed to plan your stay in Nuwara Eliya. You will find more information on this cute little town as well as what to do and where to stay. Note that we got to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy and then,...
Why A Campervan Iceland Road Trip Might Be The Best Vacation Of Your Life
When you’ve been around the world and back, it's difficult to find something new to do. And while Scandinavia may have been already been scratched from your list, finding new ways to explore it could completely change the perspective. For instance, if you’ve been to...
Tips For Backpacking Georgia
From beautiful nature, rich culture to magnificent historic and ancient landmarks, Georgia has plenty of things to offer, whether you are on a romantic getaway or a family vacation. It is one of the perfect and the cheapest destinations for those who love to travel on...