Probably the #1 online source is Tripadvisor

We stayed in some great places thanks to up-to-date and honest reviews of accommodation from Tripadvisor,  We would usually select the ‘best value’ option and also elected for the B&B or ‘other accommodation’ options.  This way we avoided ‘hotel chains’ and found some great family owned and small pensions, pousadas, guesthouses and the like.

 

followed by Lonely Planet Thorn tree forum for recent visa/border crossing/scam information.

1. 

 

Other sites used:

Ownersdirect.co.uk

1. For finding self-contained longer stay apartments – eg. in Fethiye, Budapest, Bansko Bulgaria