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 2 Days In Innsbruck Itinerary
The enchanting Austrian city of Innsbruck brings together the beauty of Alpine nature with the shops, museums, and restaurants of a thriving urban environment. The capital of Tyrol, it is located in a valley and affords you breathtaking views of the surrounding...
Perfect 2 Days In Stockholm Itinerary
Stockholm is an incredible Swedish city made up of 14 islands all joined together through pictures bridges and waterways. It's an impressive blend of the old and the new world. This European capital city is diverse, inclusive, friendly, and welcoming, with a...
Perfect 2 Days In Montreal Itinerary
Montreal is the perfect place for a weekend getaway in Canada. It can be enjoyed in both Summer & Winter and has a vast range of activities to do while you’re visiting. This Quebec city is a great mix of old and new, so you can have so many different experiences...
Perfect 2 Days In Zion National Park Itinerary
Zion National Park is one of Utah’s most popular attractions. Because of this, you may wonder, ‘Why visit Zion National Park as a tourist?’, or ‘Is Zion National Park worth visiting? Aside from hiking, Zion National Park is full of things to do and see. Here you can...
A Tourist’s Guide To Ontario
Ontario is one of the best places for tourists in Canada. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you’re guaranteed that Ontario can make your travel dreams come true. From the most glorious mountain ranges to some of the world's most recognized casinos, there’s...
All The Ways To Explore The Greek Islands
Of all the amazing destinations that the Mediterranean has to offer, from the charming hill towns of Tuscany to the vibrant Balearics, the islands of Greece are possibly the most remarkable. This collection of rocky specks in a turquoise sea is genuinely stunning and...