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 Cinque Terre Itinerary
Cinque Terre is a picturesque area in Italy made up of five villages: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. The villages are connected by walking trails and offer stunning views of the coastline. Cinque Terre is a popular tourist...
Perfect 2 Days In Zermatt Itinerary
Wondering if it's possible to visit Zermatt in 2 days? It is! If you're looking to pack in as much as possible during a 2-day visit to Zermatt, you'll want to make sure you hit all the city's main attractions. This itinerary will take you on a whirlwind tour of the...
Is Zermatt Worth Visiting?
Is Zermatt worth visiting? If you're planning your holidays in Switzerland, you might be wondering if you should go to Zermatt. It's normal - it's the question on many people's minds, and for good reason (Switzerland is expensive, is it not?!). The city is known for...
Perfect One Day In Capri Itinerary
When most people think of Capri, they imagine a luxurious island getaway with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. While it is certainly that, Capri is also a fascinating place to explore with plenty of history and culture to discover. If you're only able to...
Is Lucerne Worth Visiting?
Is Lucerne worth visiting? This is a question that many travelers face when planning their trip to Switzerland. Lucerne is a beautiful city in Switzerland, but it can be expensive and there is not a lot of nightlife. So, is it worth it to visit Lucerne? Our guide...
Is Amalfi Worth Visiting?
When most people think of traveling in Italy, they automatically imagine picturesque rolling hills blanketed in grapevines, olive groves, and dramatic cliffs. The iconic Italian landscape is best experienced by touring the regions of Tuscany, Veneto, or Puglia. But...