Motril, Spain

While Motril boasts a subtropical microclimate, the bureaucracy is a persistent headache. With a population of just under 60,000, this port town on Spain's Costa Tropical is the second-largest municipality in Granada province. However, the lack of a rail connection to nearby Granada - a proposed €400 million project that was rejected in 2010 - highlights the challenges of living here. Those who can navigate the administrative hurdles may find Motril's beaches, religious festivals, and historic sugar refineries appealing, but the city is not for the faint of heart.