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 To Visit Komodo National Park
Wondering how to visit Komodo National Park? In this guide, we'll give you some tips for visiting Komodo. Known to be one of the best places to visit in Indonesia, Komodo National Park was pretty high on my Indonesian bucket list. Whether you’re planning on seeing the...
Best Wildlife Experiences In The World
When it comes to traveling, some people pick their destinations according to their secret passions such as food, hiking, photography, etc. Some others prefer to choose their next holiday destinations because of the animal scene. Confession: although I’m not really a...
Best Things To Do In Labuan Bajo
Flores and Komodo should be on everyone’s itinerary when it comes to traveling in Indonesia. Backpacking Flores is a great way to discover another beautiful Indonesian island and it’s the perfect excuse to visit Komodo National Park while you’re around the area. When...
Where To See Komodo Dragons (Rinca Or Komodo?)
If you’re visiting Flores or Komodo during your Indonesia trip, you must go on a tour to see the Komodo dragons. Visiting Komodo National Park was one of the coolest trips I’ve been on (if it’s not the coolest). I didn’t really know what to expect from these big...
Complete Guide: How To Get To Labuan Bajo
After being in Bali for so long, I decided it was time to explore new Indonesian islands. I heard a lot of great things about Flores and Komodo National Park in the past, so it made sense to book a holiday there. If you’re planning to travel to Komodo Island at some...
Winter Holiday Destinations In Europe
The winter is officially started in many countries in Europe. If you're planning to spend your holidays in a snowy destination, you should check out these gorgeous places where the winter is absolutely magical. Spending time playing in the snow is always a great idea...