India, April 24 -- I wrote, a couple of weeks ago, about the enduring charms of the Maldives. My purpose was to suggest holiday destinations that were unaffected by the hostilities in the Middle East and were near India, while still seeming different enough to offer some novelty. Many people who responded to the article said, "Yes, it looks amazing. But have you looked at the hotel prices?"

They were right, of course. The Maldives has been very expensive for a long time, but it may now be unaffordable because of the plummeting rupee. In fact, many, if not most, foreign destinations now seem out of reach because the rupee keeps sinking.

I resolved then to try to find a vacation destination that was beautiful, had good hotels, was unaffec...