A couple warned tourists "don't take travel advice from social media" after they spent almost all of their $12k Maldives holiday in - "thick clouds and pouring rain".<br /><br />Oskar Kappland and Dan Goz, both 26, booked the no-expense-spared nine-day trip to celebrate their nine-year anniversary of being together.<br /><br />They were expecting to experience picturesque sunsets and shimmering crystal seas at the two resorts where they stayed.<br /><br />They had seen countless Instagram posts of the Maldives featuring perfect weather and never considered it might not be like that all the time.<br /><br />Instead, more than half of the pricey trip was spent under shelter due to poor weather - despite them going in December, which is "high season" for weather.<br /><br />Dan, a travel reviewer, said it was "the opposite of travel inspo."<br /><br />He said: "We tried to see the funny side because all you can do is laugh.<br /><br />"We knew it was normal for afternoon showers, but we had four days straight of thick clouds and pouring rain!<br /><br />"Our message in general is don't set your expectations based on travel advice from social media.<br /><br />"Do your research, social media doesn't represent reality.<br /><br />"Make sure you know what to expect and prepare for the good AND the bad."<br /><br />The couple, originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, who post their travels on social media @oskaranddan, had been to the Maldives before and loved it.<br /><br />So they never considered their return between December 6 and 14 would be any different.<br /><br />They had four days booked at a hotel in Dhigurah, Maldives, famous for whale shark sightings.<br /><br />But it was constant "thick clouds and pouring rain" and they saw none.<br /><br />Oskar, a musician, said: "The whole place is weather-dependent - we went for the swimming, snorkelling and sun."<br /><br />On the second part of the holiday they stayed in a fancy resort costing $1,500 a night, where there were indoor activities on offer to compensate.<br /><br />They saw grey skies and rain for seven of the nine days they were away.<br /><br />They tried to enjoy the trip, but said the weather was just as bad as at home.<br /><br />Oskar said: "We're originally from Sweden and the weather was like our winter there, apart from Sweden is colder. It's what we were trying to escape in Northern Europe!"<br /><br />They wanted to warn people to be careful with their expectations when travelling - even to a destination with an 'Instagrammable' reputation.<br /><br />Dan said: "We know a lot of people who want to go just for pics - for those people, it's not a worthwhile gamble.<br /><br />"We’ve been using social media for years, people always see the best version online and it gives a false perspective of how the world is.<br /><br />"People might be willing to spend thousands of dollars to go to the Maldives and they're not aware half of more of their stay could be bad weather.<br /><br />"It's paradise when it's sunny - but when its not, you're just stuck there."
