Philippines

An English-speaking country of seven thousand islands: Manila and Cebu cover the practical side, the islands cover the water and the weather. Food and transport are cheap, while imported goods, electricity and decent housing cost more than Southeast Asia usually suggests. The dry season generally runs from December to May, and typhoons arrive later in the year and rearrange both plans and flights. Extending a stay is done locally and without drama; the hard parts are inter-island logistics, road quality and power cuts.