Hello there! My name is Melissa and I’m the founder of My Beautiful Passport.
My mission is to inspire you to chase your own travel dreams and seek your own adventure.
I fell in love with adventure travel in 2014 getting my SCUBA open-water certification in Honduras and have been travelling part-time since. I aim to travel full-time soon.
Where I’ve Travelled
To date, I’ve explored 16+ countries. My expertise lies in the following places:
📍 Canada – Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Alberta
📍 USA – New York, Illinois, California, Florida, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts
📍 Cuba – Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, Cayo Santa Maria
📍 Dominican Republic – Punta Cana (or Punta Canada as the locals like to call it)
📍 Honduras – Roatan
📍 Nicaragua – Leon, Granada, San Juan del Sur
📍 Costa Rica – San Jose, Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Tamarindo
📍 Panama – Panama City, El Valle de Anton, Bocas del Toro, Boquete
📍 Japan – Tokyo
📍 Philippines – Manila, Taal
📍 France – Paris
📍 Belgium – Brussels
📍 Germany – Berlin
📍 Aruba – Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Arikok
📍 Barbados – Bridgetown, Oistins, Carlisle Bay
📍 Portugal – Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, Lagos, Silves, Faro
And I have no plans to stop adding more countries to this list any time soon!
You Can Find Adventure Everywhere
I truly believe everyone should be able to see and experience the beauty this world has to offer and that there is adventure everywhere.
You can find it in your own country, in the city, at the beach, in the mountains, and everywhere else.
All you really need is a desire to travel, to try new things, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Why I Blog
👉 To inspire you to travel now and not wait until retirement, even if you have a 9-5 job like I do
👉 To teach you to collect memories and push yourself outside your comfort zone with adventure travel
👉 To help you have the best travel experiences, even when hiccups happen
Through travel tips, destination itineraries, and my travel experiences, I share with you how to plan your adventures and help you learn from my misadventures.
I’m on a Journey to Experience the Most Incredible Adventures
As part of my travels, I want to experience the most incredible and unique adventures on every continent.
Here is a list of all the adventure activities currently on my list and what I’ve experienced so far:
- See the only island in a lake, in an island in a lake, on an island in the world at Taal Volcano, Philippines
- Go volcano boarding in Nicaragua
- Zipline through the cloud forest in Costa Rica
- Try surfing
- Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
- See the sunrise over two oceans from Volcan Baru, Panama
- Brave the Edge Walk at the CN Tower, Toronto
- Kayak in Antarctica
- Go on an African Safari
- Scuba dive in two oceans on the same day in Panama
- Ride a helicopter in Hawaii
- Parasailing in Portugal
- See the first sunrise in North America
- Paragliding in Switzerland
- Hiking in the Aruba desert
- Swimming in the Dead Sea
- Snowboard in the Candian Rockies
- Snorkelling with turtles in Barbados
- See puffins in Newfoundland
- See the Northern Lights
And if you know of more I need to add, please reach out and let me know!
More About the Girl Behind My Beautiful Passport
I’m a Canada YYZ-based traveller with non-stop wanderlust.
While I’m currently working a full-time 9-5, I aspire towards transitioning into full-time travel.
In the meantime, I travel at every opportunity that arises and document my journey along the way. Even if it means a weekend getaway to Montreal (which is one of my favourite places), or somewhere else domestic within Canada or close by like the USA.
My first family trip abroad, when I was 12, ignited my curiosity about travel, and since 2014 travel has been my passion and has led me to explore 16+ countries across 3 different continents.
Travel has provided me with the most amazing experiences in my life and I can’t wait for what’s next.
Life is too short to wait until retirement to travel, and my passion for travel fuels my soul.
I love trying new things, meeting new cultures, trying new foods, and sharing my experiences with others, including sharing them with you, and I don’t want to wait to do it until I’m older.
I love to collect memories, and my loves of photography and travel are my favourite ways to do so.
Travel pushes us outside our comfort zone and focuses us to change and grow into better versions of ourselves.
I aim to visit as many countries as I possibly can, as there’s so much to see and experience in our beautiful world.
My Travel Style
A mix of adventure and affordable luxury.
From scuba diving in the Philippines to swimming in a rooftop pool in Panama, from ziplining in Costa Rica to enjoying time relaxing in a boutique hotel in Lisbon, I like to switch it up, and just have fun on my travels.
I hope you will enjoy my travel style and take an adventure of your own. You can find adventure in nature, in the city, through food, or just about anywhere!
A few of my favourite things:
- Travel quote – “We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us” – Robyn Yong
- Country I’ve visited so far – Japan! And I really wanna go back!
- Foods to eat abroad – Pizza and ice cream/gelato – Yum!
- Travel experience – being sung happy birthday to, by a group of strangers after they found out it was my birthday, on the top of a volcano, before volcano boarding down it
How My Beautiful Passport Began
I started My Beautiful Passport as a place to share my travels with friends and fellow travellers I met along the way, and to share information that I couldn’t find when I was searching online to plan my trips. Now I share travel tips and mishaps to help others plan their travel and inspire them.
Everyone should be so fortunate to experience travel outside their country at least once in their lifetime. Turn your dream into a reality and don’t wait until you are retired to travel. There is so much adventure out there to seek!
At My Beautiful Passport, you will find destination itineraries, travel tips, personal travel experiences, and inspiration to help you chase your dream adventure.
Follow along with my adventure and get inspired to start yours today!
Where I’ve Been Featured
I take great pride in my collaborations and features. Here are a few places where you can find me:
Yahoo Travel – Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations for 2022
Paula Pins The Planet – 15 Best Hikes in Central America Revealed by Travel Experts
The Exploring Family – Summer in Canada: Best Places to Visit
Dalton’s Destinations – Top Destinations for Autumn Instagram Photos
The Directionally Challenged Traveler – 12 Best Things to Do in Panama
Four Around the World – Ultimate California Bucklist: 50 Best Things to Do in California
GoBanking Rates – Budget Friendly Travel Destinations for 2022
Photo Jeepers – 50+ US Summer Vacations Destinations
Travel & Blossom – 30 Amazing Roadtrip Must-Haves
Many Other Roads – The Most Romantic Places in Europe For Your Next Trip
Not About the Miles – 7 Days in Europe: 25 Exciting Itineraries for Your One Week Europe Trip
My Small Travel Guide – How Do We Travel the World with Pets: 15 Interviews
Honeymoon Always – 25 Things to Do on Your Honeymoon
Russal Gear – Experts Tell Us The Best Back Support Camping Chairs
Wanderlog – 40 Best Stops Between Halifax and Toronto
Capital One – 5 Essentials to Pack for Your Next Road Trip
Boundless Roads – 27 Top Spots for the Best Snorkeling in the Caribbean
Traxplorers – Why We Travel? Reasons Decoded
Shades of Summr – Best Caribbean Destinations in 2023 for an Amazing Vacation
We Dream of Travel – 41 Most Romantic Getaways in the USA in 2023
Shades of Summr – 30 Amazing Once in a Lifetime Destinations
Go Far Grow Close – 28 Best Places in Europe for Most Beautiful Sunsets
Wander with Jo – Experts Speak: Best Ways to Pay for Travels in 2023
European Cities with Kids – Best Places to Propose in Europe: 37 Amazing Ideas
Let’s Go A Wandering – 18 Best Bucket List Luxury Vacation Destinations in The Americas and Caribbean
Live Work Play Travel – Unique Accommodation in the World
Alex & Leah – The Ultimate Costa Rica Bucket List
Southerner Says – 22 Amazing Places to Visit in Canada
Paris Top Ten – 40 Fun & Best Things to do in Paris, France
The Orange Backpack – Best Places to Visit in Canada in Summer
Sumeeta Seeks – Adventures Bucket List: 38 Things to Do Before You Die
Merryl’s Travel & Tricks – 16 Best Algarve Towns to Visit in the Summer
Wander with Alex – 27 Sun-Drenched Caribbean Islands for Your Next Beach Vacation
Periodic Adventures – 39 Standout Places to Visit in Summer in the USA
No Hurry to Get Home – NYC Instagram Spots as Told by Top Travel Bloggers
A World in Reach – 33 Meaningful Reasons Why People LOVE to Travel
Explorers Away – 10 Best Cities in Panama (Travelers Love)
Travel Melodies – Traditional Food Around the World: Exploring Culture Through Food
World Wide Honeymoon – 23 Best Caribbean Honeymoon Destinations
Global Game Plan – 23 Great Ideas for Your 40th Birthday Trip
No Hurry to Get Home – 11 Beautiful Chicago Instagram Spots
I look forward to having you here on My Beautiful Passport to gain all my tips and tricks when it comes to travelling.
Now that you are here, let’s stay connected. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook to stay in touch.
So happy you are here!
Sincerely, Melissa
Are you a brand looking to collaborate? Check out my Work With Me and Media Kit. Looking forward to hearing from you.