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
Best Day Trips From Split, Croatia
When in Croatia, Split should definitely be on your travel itinerary. Split is also an amazing base for day trips as there are many places to discover in this area. Whether you do it yourself or you book a tour to make it easy, you must check out these day trips from...
I Want To Move Abroad, Where Do I Start?
Is living abroad for a year or moving overseas something you’ve been considering? If it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made - it was also a bit scary and overwhelming at first. To help you plan this new adventure, here’s a list of things to keep in mind...
Hadrian’s Wall Walk Suggested Itinerary
There is nothing better than exploring a new country using your two feet and an ambitious heart. The epic 84 mile, coast to coast Hadrian's wall walk in England, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers just the opportunity for avid hikers to try out their...
Perfect Weekend In Istanbul Itinerary
Istanbul is a booming metropolis that is strategically located across the Bosphorus Strait that divides Europe and Asia. It is fast developing as one of the most popular and all-time favorite cities in Europe. With a myriad of tourist attractions and...
Perfect 7 Days In Croatia Itinerary
If you’re planning to travel to Croatia for 7/10 days, this itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. Including some of the best Croatian highlights, we want to make sure we got you dreams covered. Dubrovnik (Day 1-2) We’re starting off our itinerary for...
Backpacking Penang Itinerary
Although it is impossible to cover Penang in three days, with a carefully designed itinerary one can indeed make the most of their stay in Penang. After all, there is so much to do and see here, Penang's beaches and jungles, George Town’s hipster cafes and some of the...