The Dark Side of the Maldives

We left the luxury villas and traveled to Malé, the capital of the Maldives, to explore a more affordable side of the country. We stayed in an Airbnb for $35 a night, visited a newly reclaimed island, walked around the crowded streets, saw mosques and motorcycles, and tried local food. We discovered that everyday expenses are very high, although we managed to spend about $50 during the day before heading back.