Founder
Melissa Giroux founded abrokenbackpack.com in 2015. She is been living abroad since 2014. Originally Canadian, she has been living and working online in many destinations around the world. She is passionate about traveling, technology, entrepreneurship, and CrossFit.
She has traveled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. She is now living in Thailand.
To learn more, head to our About page.
The month of October brings with it cooler weather, Halloween and of course the usual premature Christmas hype. As the days start getting shorter, we sit there casting our minds back to summer and maybe to that wonderful holiday you had. For most, a holiday during the...
A few months ago, I flew to Norway. I was catching a cheap flight to the United States from Oslo, so I had less than 48 hours to make the most of Norway. Obviously, my bank account was crying - Norway is not a budget destination. Norway is quite a big country; 385,252...
Planning a week in Portugal? Let us help! Portugal is a wonderful country and while 7 days in Portugal may seem like a long time, you’ll wish you’d stayed longer. In fact, we recommend a minimum of 10 days in Portugal, but we understand that sometimes, we have...
Porto, also known as Oporto, is the second largest city in Portugal. For a color seeker like me, it was love at first sight. With the old-ish vibes, the colorful scenes and Douro River in the background it was quite hard not to fall for Porto. Any Port wine addicts...
Portugal; a mix of stunning landscapes, colorful cities and old trams. The country sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Under the warm Portuguese sun, there’s also the freezing cold areas. The ocean is a big trap. It’s bloody cold in there. Between the natural...
Wondering what to do in Budapest? Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities you will find in Central Europe. The Hungarian capital is known for its stunning architecture, medicinal thermal springs, and vivid nightlife. Therefore, it's no surprise that the city...
Portugal is full of amazing places to discover. If you’re planning a Portugal road trip, you must add Douro Region to your Portugal itinerary. Douro Valley is also known for its vineyards, stunning landscapes, and river. Could you imagine yourself cruising on Douro...
The first time I visited Europe I was amazed by its history. I went to Berlin and decided to take one day to visit a concentration camp. I always had a big fascination for the world wars as creepy as it sounds. I get it, perhaps I’m not picking the right words here....
Edinburgh was love at first sight. It was the first time I’ve seen a mix of nature and a busy city all in one go. Considering Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, I thought it was quite impressive. I even said I could easily see myself living there. If...
Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world that hosts about 40,000 trekkers every year. This highest African peak is the major source of tourism in Tanzania. So what makes it so famous? Let’s look at the best reasons why you should be choosing...