Maldives

Atolls where life is split between resort islands and local ones, each with its own everyday rules. A resort stay is expensive, guesthouses on local islands cost far less, and almost all food is imported. It is warm all year, with a dry season from November to April and wind and rain from May to October. The country is poorly suited to a long stay: work outside tourism is scarce, and healthcare and schooling are concentrated in Malé.