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 Get To Mont Saint Michel From Paris?
Once you have explored Paris, it is a good idea to explore the rest of the country and its countryside. Thanks to the extensive train network, it is straightforward to travel from Paris to other attractions in France. Mont Saint Michel is one attraction that you...
Perfect 5 Days In Morocco Itinerary
Planning a short trip to Morocco? If you’re heading to this incredible country for a few days, here’s what you should do to make the most of your trip. In this 5 day-itinerary in Morocco, you’ll get the best - as well as a fun Sahara desert experience. Before we dive...
Perfect 2 Days In Los Angeles Itinerary
Many things have been said about Los Angeles. Some say it is the second most important city in the US, others that it is really dangerous; many affirm it is the capital of the film industry and many others that it’s one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world....
Perfect 3 Days In Perth Itinerary
Perth is one of the most isolated major cities in the world. If you were to look at it from above at night, you would see the city and then just darkness surrounding it for miles because it is enclosed by forest. So why would you want to visit Perth? Besides its...
The Prettiest Places To Visit In The Cotswolds
Full of pretty towns and villages, the Cotswolds is, of course, known for its characterful honey-colored houses, winding rivers and tea rooms, and people often travel here for the history and wonderful walking trails. Picking where to stay and which villages to...
Guide To Sailing Around Mallorca
If you are looking forward to a wide variety of landscapes and multiple choices of anchoring on a sailing holiday, then sail along the beautiful coastline of Mallorca. The typical setting amidst the Mallorca's coastline means admiring the shallow turquoise waters...