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
Georgia Travel Tips For An Epic Trip
As a location that offers vibrant cities, some stunning coastlines, and the breathtaking mountains, Georgia is one of the most sought after destinations in America. From downtown Atlanta to the Great Lakes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Georgia, and it’s...
Perfect Ionian Island Hopping Route
Greece has been one of the most popular holiday destinations for travelers across the world. It's a great choice - particularly for those who love to know about the life of an islander. This Southeast European country is amazing for island hopping. With its...
Expat Guide: Living In Koh Phangan
After traveling Koh Lanta and Koh Tao, the next stop was Koh Phangan. It seemed to be a really smart destination as Koh Phangan is also popular amongst digital nomads and, let’s be honest, it’s cheaper than Koh Tao, ha! When I was living in Bali someone told me about...
Best Airbnb Kuala Lumpur: Where To Stay In Malaysia’s Modern Capital
Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination in Malaysia. If you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, you’re going to end up there eventually. Two reasons for this: cheap flights and shopping break! Ha! Let’s be a bit more serious though - Kuala Lumpur is a great city...
How To Make Money Traveling
Hop on a plane, go somewhere new, have a blast, get paid. That’s the dream, isn’t it? For travel connoisseurs, the idea of being paid while doing nothing more than indulging in your favorite hobby seems too good to be true. Yet that’s exactly what a growing number of...
Travel Guide: Than Sadet Waterfall, Koh Phangan
If you need a break from the crowds and the parties in Koh Phangan, you might want to find peaceful and unique things to do in Koh Phangan. You could go on a day trip to Than Sadet Waterfall and Haad Than Sadet (Than Sadet Beach). Officially, the area is known as Than...