What nobody tells you about visiting Maldives

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from Maldives. Some things matched: underwater restaurants is as spectacular as every review says, and Addu Atoll has a genuine energy I'd read about. The garudhiya fish soup obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: total relaxation and luxury. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: extremely expensive even at budget level. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.