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
Travel Guide: Bottle Beach, Koh Phangan
After settling in Koh Phangan for several weeks, I was ready to explore the famous Thai island. I had already driven across the jungle, enjoyed a few epic sunsets and found some fun waterfalls (as well as natural pools). When I first moved to Koh Phangan, I had to...
Complete Guide: Get Free Accommodation In Exchange For Work
When I first started traveling, I was on a budget. I didn't have a lot of savings but I had one big dream - I wanted to travel the world. I look for different options so I can travel on a budget. Back then, I was 20 years old. I signed up for my first volunteering...
Complete Guide: What To Do In Khao Sok National Park
If you’re looking for something off-the-beaten-path in Thailand, you should add Khao Sok National Park to your itinerary. It might not be well known yet - but it’s a very beautiful gem hidden in the Thai jungle. Well, let’s speak the truth for a second - by jungle, I...
7 Best Destinations To Learn How To Surf
Not everyone has the luxury of starting their surfing journey early on in life. For those of you who are thinking about getting into surfing, now is the time! Unfortunately, you can’t just step foot on any surfing beach, as some conditions are too heavy for beginners,...
Most Beautiful Tourist Spots In Peru
Peru is a unique travel destination in South America. Culture, history, adventure, exquisite cuisine and more, all combined provide a broad spectrum of reasons why one should definitely plan a visit there. From the coast to the Andes and the jungle, there are...
Hostel Guide: The Best Hostels In Koh Lanta
Finding the right hostel isn’t always a fun task, but it doesn’t have to be too painful either! If Thailand is the fun backpacking heaven for young travelers, it’s also filled with pretty decent hostels. If you’re planning on backpacking Koh Lanta while in Thailand,...