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
Perfect One Day In Ayutthaya Itinerary
When in Thailand most of us end up in Bangkok at some point. Being the capital of Thailand, Bangkok welcomes a lot of visitors every year. I first visited Bangkok in 2016. There's a lot of fun things to do in Bangkok. Although, if you’re planning on avoiding the busy...
Best Festivals In Asia
Believe it or not, I’ve been living in Asia for a year now! Asia is known for its unusual celebrations which guarantee fun and cool cultural experiences. Let’s take a look at some unique festivals in Asia and let’s see which one you should add to your Asia bucket...
Complete Guide: Backpacking Spain Itinerary
Backpacking Spain is a superb option for backpackers and solo travelers. Spain is filled with many attractions - amazing landscapes, interesting museums, mesmerizing architecture, and bustling cities. Spain has a vibrant culture with fascinating locals, many expats,...
Complete Guide: Best Hidden Gems In Bali
Bali is a magical island with so much to see and do, here we have shortlisted the best and most beautiful places in Bali. These hidden gems in Bali are jam-packed with magnificent natural landscapes, adventure, and culture! If you are looking for cheap things to do...
Travel Guide: Sekumpul Waterfall, Bali
This time I checked out Sekumpul Waterfall which is known as one of the best waterfalls in Bali. Sekumpul Waterfall, Bali, is quite impressive because it’s an 80-meters one, which makes it the highest one in Bali. You might also want to check out Munduk Waterfall or...
Traveling Tibet In Winter
Traveling to Tibet in the winter months is one of the best times to head for the plateau. While many people believe that you cannot travel to Tibet in the winter due to it being covered in snow and way too cold, this is not actually true. Winter in Tibet is like...