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 3 Days In Kuala Lumpur Itinerary
If you're planning 3 days in Kuala Lumpur, here are some fun things to do in Kuala Lumpur in 3 days (more or less) including some great restaurants and cool travel tips! Kuala Lumpur is one of my regular stops in Asia. I’m not a big city person, but hey, how could I...
Perfect 7 Day In Israel Itinerary
Here’s the perfect Israel itinerary for those who are planning to visit this country for 7-10 days (or even longer as I’ll be recommending other things and places) featuring Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the best Israel outdoor destinations. I’ll also give you some tips and...
5 Fun Things To Do In Sweden
Sweden is the most populous of the Scandinavian countries and a cultural superpower, home to more best-selling artists and pop stars than you could possibly imagine. This peaceful country is also well known for meatballs, ABBA, nature and a ridiculously high...
How To Travel On A Low Budget
After being so long abroad, people are always asking me how I fund my travels. I’m not one of these typical travelers who saved money for years to make it happen. I didn't have any savings. In fact, I left with less than CAD 2000 in the first place. I learned how to...
Complete Guide To Dating Abroad
This article is about what it’s like to be dating abroad and lessons learned when everything is temporary! I’ve been abroad for four years now. Yes, that’s a pretty long time. I’ve met many people along the way. I can barely remember some of them and somehow, some...
How To Get To Kuala Lumpur From Singapore
Wondering how to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur? Or even the other way around - from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore? The best way to travel from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by flight, but if you are on a budget, traveling by bus would be the cheapest option....