Luxury by credit

Going on a luxury holiday was once something many of us could only dream of but now, instead of being reserved for the rich and wealthy, there are some other ways you can pay for a once in a lifetime holiday in the Maldives, and ones that might even earn you some cashback or air miles along the way. LUX* Maldives Whether it’s the stunning views that caught your attention first, the range of activities available or the 4 kilometres of beautiful beaches, you can’t help but be mesmerised by this beautiful place. If you visit LUX* you’ll be spoilt for choice for what to do. They boast a fantastic spa with custom made aromatherapy oils, daily diving trips, flyboarding, reef snorkelling, windsurfing, tennis, volleyball, beach yoga and more. Once you’re done being adventurous you can pick a spot along the 4 kilometres of white sandy beaches that stretch around the island, get out a good book and relax. Then when the evening arrives, you have a choice of 13 different restaurants and bars, so you needn’t eat in the same place twice in a week! Seven days bed and breakfast in this luxury resort will set you back around £4,804 for two people, and to go all inclusive, prices rise to over £6,400. Embudu Village This is a much more affordable option for a luxury holiday in the Maldives. Embudu Village boasts a similar range of activities to the LUX* resort, like volleyball, a spa and snorkelling amongst other things. The main difference is that a lot of extras which were included as standard at LUX* resort aren’t included in Embudu Village such as room service, snorkelling, paid internet access only in the lobby and just one restaurant serving a buffet during set times. Despite this, it’s worth remembering where you are. Surrounded by stunningly beautiful beaches, crystal clear water and ultimate disconnection from reality, it’s a world away from your normal work or home life. Embudu Village is significantly cheaper than LUX*, coming in at £2,922 (full board) for two. For an additional £336 you can go all inclusive which also includes drinks. How to pay for them Holidays like this are usually reserved for a special occasion or the rich and famous as most people don’t generally have £5-7k just lying around in a bank account. But there is a way to enjoy it even if you don’t have a 5 star salary.

• Interest free credit cards can offer an affordable way to pay for a holiday upfront, with some lenders offering long interest free periods on purchases such as 0% interest free for the first 18 months.

• If you picked a cashback credit card, you could earn money back on purchases, like 5% cashback on the first £2,000 you spend, then 0.5% on everything you spend on top of that.

• Alternatively, you could opt for an airmiles rewards card like an Avios based one.  You’ll earn points on card purchases which convert to airmiles. For every £1 you spend, you’ll earn 1 Avios point which can be put towards flights, wine, spa days, hotels and much more.

Of course it’s important to not only find a card that meets your needs and budget but also bear in mind that depending on your credit score, you may not be approved for credit and the amount you can borrow may be limited by the lender. It’s important to make sure that, if you do decide to apply for one, that you can afford to make the repayments. To many a holiday like this is a holiday of a lifetime, to some it might be a regular treat, but whichever you are, there’s a solution to get you on that plane. Mhairi Edwards is Head of Travel Insurance at Confused.com. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.