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 Long Does it Take To Travel The World
Are you deciding whether to take a few days off from work to travel abroad or if you rather pack your backpack and buy a one-way ticket to your new adventure? I know - it’s a hard one! For most working people, it is much easier to book a 3-nights holiday somewhere in...
How To Enjoy Las Vegas On A Budget
Las Vegas might not be the first-holiday destination you think of for a budget travel experience. However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that Sin City isn’t all Michelin-starred restaurants and exclusive VIP nightclubs. Yes, there are plenty of ways to soak...
How To Plan A Trip To Bali
Wondering where to go in Bali? How to create the perfect Bali itinerary? I’m very happy to help you plan a trip to Bali that you’re going to remember. Why should you trust me? Well - Bali was my base for more than a year so I feel like I know Bali pretty well! The...
How To Plan A Nusa Penida Diving Trip
If you’re an experienced scuba diver, there’s a high chance Indonesia in on your list. With places such as Komodo National Park, the Nusa Islands, the Gili Islands and Raja Ampat - there are several diving sites to consider. As I just started diving this year, I won’t...
Perfect Nusa Penida Itinerary
Thinking of heading to Nusa Penida while in Bali? I totally get it - Nusa Penida is absolutely breathtaking and is a must for your Bali itinerary. If you’re wondering how long you should stay in Nusa Penida and more importantly, what to do while you’re there - this...
Live Music In Miami And Where To Find It
Once you travel to Miami, you will find what a vibrant and diverse musical scene it has. As a kaleidoscope of many cultures intermingling with each other, you can find anything from punk, rock, jazz, reggae, Latin and so on. Miami counts not only with some of the most...