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
Perfect 2 Days In Osaka Itinerary
If you’re heading to Japan, you should add Osaka to your itinerary. It’s not too far from Kyoto, and close enough from Nara. Basically, it’s worth visiting! To help you plan your trip to Osaka, here are my recommendations on what to do. I visited Osaka twice. Once a...
Tips For Visiting Moco Museum In Amsterdam
Do you like modern contemporary art? Are you looking for a true eye-opener? If you answered yes to one or both questions, Moco Museum is definitely waiting for your visit! Start your Amsterdam adventure in Moco Museum, get lost between the walls covered with...
Expat Guide: The Best Places To Live In Portugal
Wondering what are the best places to live in Portugal? We understand! Portugal is becoming the country everyone wants to visit, and many want to live in. Why? Well, it isn’t just because of the sun, the proximity of the sea and the cheap prices. The increasing...
Complete Guide: Best Israeli Food
If you ask me where is the best food is - I’d say Israel. Israeli food is one of the major reasons why I’m super happy to visit… and revisit Israel. Ha! There’s a lot of food to eat in Israel - and don’t worry, many restaurants have a fixed menu which means you’ll get...
Perfect Jerusalem Itinerary
If you’re planning your trip to Jerusalem, you may be wondering how long you need and more importantly, what to do and see. Whether you’re heading to Jerusalem for religious reasons or not, you should know that there’s more to it than just religious sites. (I’m only...
Complete Guide: Swimming In The Dead Sea
Floating in the Dead Sea is the kind of experience you might have only once in your life. (Or is it?) After swimming in the Dead Sea not once, but four times, I tried different beaches and I know where the best one is. In this post, you’ll find my top Dead Sea tips to...