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
A Complete Guide To Visiting Canada’s Banff National Park
If exploring Canada's wildlife is on your list of things to do, no place compares to Banff National Park. Banff is a destination that has been mentioned time and time again in travel sources like National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and CNN Travel. If you’re heading to...
How Many Days In Chiang Mai Is Enough?
Wondering how many days in Chiang Mai is enough? If you’re planning your Thailand itinerary, there’s a chance you decided to visit Northern Thailand. In this post, we will make sure to tell you all about the main things to do in Northern Thailand so you can how...
Chiang Rai VS Chiang Mai: Where Should You Go?
Planning your trip to Northern Thailand? If you have a limited time, you may be wondering if you should visit Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai (or both?). In this post, we compare both cities so you can make your decision according to your preferences. Note that if you have 4...
Perfect One Day In Chiang Rai Itinerary
Thinking of visiting Chiang Rai while in Thailand? Known for its beautiful temples, Chiang Rai is located in the Northeast of Thailand. If you’re visiting Chiang Mai during your stay in Thailand, why not add one day to visit the famous temples of Chiang Rai. ...
Airalo Esim Review: Is It Still The Best eSIM For Travelers?
Updated for 2025 – Everything you need to know about Airalo, how it works, which devices support it, and if it’s worth it for your next adventure. Quick Verdict: Airalo remains one of the most affordable and user-friendly eSIM providers worldwide. But is it still...
Best Packing Cubes For Travel
Are you looking for an easy way to stay organized and maximize the space in your luggage? Packing cubes are a great solution. These handy containers come in various sizes, allowing you to organize all of your clothing items in one place. Not only will they help keep...