Tips for travelling 3 months in Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia) on 7000 Euro budget?

Posted by SerJaker@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 3 comments

G'day. Planning a 3 month trip to the Balkans around June and I'm

taking about roughly $12000AUD but I'm concerned since I haven't travelled abroad from Australia since Covid and my understanding is that prices of skyrocketed since the pandemic.

I plan on staying in the cheapest hostels and if hostel aren't available for my destination, then potentially using couchsurfing. Using airbnb or hotels as a last resort. I plan on sticking to cheap breakfasts (potentially free if the hostels have free breakfast included and avoiding alcohol unless I'm in a big party city like Cluj Napoca.

Plan on lots of hiking in the mountains and seeing some secluded locations so car hire during certain segments of my trip like Maramures will require car rental.

My biggest concern is I'm flying into London and staying there for about 7 days before heading to Bucharest and I'm real nervous that's going to hurt me. Even when staying in hostels.

Has anyone travelled this area of Europe recently and give some advice?