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Brasov, Romania
Start point. Before leaving, hit the Piața Sfatului (Council Square) area — buskers and street vendors do decent trade here with tourists. Stock up on cheap bread and canned food from Penny Market or Profi to stretch your $15. Check Facebook groups 'Expats in Brasov' or local hostels for odd jobs like moving furniture or garden work.
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Sacele, Romania
Small town just east of Brașov on the DN10 backroad — good fuel stop since 125cc sips it cheap. The surrounding Tătarului Gorge area has forest tracks ideal for free wild camping well off the road. Ask locals at the market for day labour (zilier) picking fruit or helping on small farms — common practice here, paid cash.
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Cheia, Romania
Scenic mountain village on the DJ102 backroad through Prahova Valley foothills — roughly 60km from Brașov through stunning switchbacks passable on a 125cc. Wild camping is easy in the forested hills behind the village, well away from the road. The Cheia Monastery attracts visitors — offer to carry bags or guide tourists on foot for tips, or sell handpicked forest mushrooms at roadside.
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Valenii de Munte, Romania
Small Prahova county town roughly 100km north of Brașov via backroads — your first real overnight urban stop. The weekly market (obor) is a cash economy goldmine — offer to help traders load/unload goods, or set up a simple service like phone charging with a powerbank for 5 lei per charge. There's a flat riverside area near the Teleajen River suitable for discreet tent camping.
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Ploiesti, Romania
Largest city on this corridor — oil industry town with a gritty hustle culture. The Piața Centrală market is huge and traders often need day labourers (zilieri) for loading, cleaning stalls, or deliveries — show up at 6am. Also try car washes on main roads offering to hand-dry cars for tips, a common informal gig. Camp at Pădurea Teleajen forest park on the city edge — free and relatively safe.
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Campina, Romania
Worth a loop back northwest via DN1A — this oil-history town has a surprisingly active weekend market scene near the central square. The Grigorescu Museum area draws visitors where busking or selling hand-drawn postcards (if you can sketch) earns tips. Wild camping options are excellent in the Câmpina forest hills just north of town — look for forest tracks off DJ101D.