Couple fly 1,300 miles from UK to Spain and BACK to collect mother-of-four’s new car here – because it was cheaper than going by train

A mother-of-four flew the 1,300 mile roundtrip from Crewe to Malaga to pick up her new car because it was cheaper than catching the train.  

Kristina Coulson, 43, from Cornwall, needed to collect her replacement vehicle – a Skoda Yeti – near Crewe in Cheshire after she was hit by a drunk driver.

But after looking into train tickets, the journey was going to cost her up to £200 per person just for the one-way journey.

After some research the support worker found it was cheaper to fly from Newquay in her native Cornwall to Malaga in Spain and then back to Manchester – with flights costing only £54.

On Sunday January 19, grandmother Kristina and her husband Dan Coulson, 50, packed their bags and caught their flight to the south of Spain.

They spent the day there then flew back and spent the night in a hotel near the car then drove home.

They spent £54 each on flights and £45 for a hotel – a total cost of £153.

Kristina, 43, from Lansallos, Cornwall, said: ‘A bit of good came from something bad – the car accident and having to sort out a car – as it sent me in the direction of sunshine on my way to pick up a new car.

Kristina Coulson, 43, and husband Dan, 50, in Malaga. The couple, from Cornwall, decided to fly to Crewe via the Spanish city as it was cheaper than catching the train

Kristina and Dan tuck into some beach snacks as they pose for a picture by the waterfront

Kristina Coulson needed to collect a Skoda Yeti near Crewe in Cheshire after she was hit by a drunk driver

‘Everything was on time – it was just lovely and easy. On a flight you are guaranteed a seat – you don’t have to stand up for hours on the train and it is quicker.’

Kristina was hit by a drunk driver on December 12 in Devon. Although she didn’t suffer any injuries from the crash, she explained said it has ‘made things difficult’.

Kristina said: ‘It caused a lot of aggravation that didn’t need to be caused. Luckily I was checked over and nothing was broken and I went home several hours later.

‘Having been hit by a drunk driver I’m not in a position to buy what I wanted but for now the car I’m getting is enough. So I got a Skoda Yeti in Crewe.’

She added: ‘On Facebook everyone is getting return flights for 30 pounds so it seemed like a no-brainer to do it that way. The cheapest place to go to and from was Malaga.’ 

Her flight arrived into Malaga just after 12pm – costing £19, while the flight back to Manchester was set for 10pm and arrived just after midnight – costing £35.

Kristina and her husband slept in the airport hotel for £45 and on the next day they picked up their new vehicle.

‘It is a bit of an out there idea – I haven’t heard anyone doing it just to pick up a car,’ she said.

A shot of the picturesque Malaga cityscape with the beautiful Cathedral of the Incarnation (right of shot) at sunset

An aerial view of Malaga, an Andalusian city on the shores of the Mediterranean – birthplace of artist Pablo Picasso 

The couple got their car and a few days away for less than the cost of a train ticket for two

‘I once stood up for nearly seven hours although I paid for a seat I couldn’t actually sit down on.

‘You are guaranteed a seat in the airplane – kill two birds with one stone and at least you can sit down and relax when you’re travelling.’

While waiting to pick up her car Kristina made the most out of her trip to Malaga – enjoying the sun, food and drinks.

Kristina said: ‘Rather than sitting in a train you are travelling to Malaga I spent eight hours in the sun.

‘It was quite a little adventure. Positive fun which has come from a few weeks of nightmares and phone calls.

‘We had a couple of beers, food and we just enjoyed being on the sun for a bit – it was 18 degrees and we did 11 miles of walking. We did a lot of exploring while we were there.’

After eight hours in the sun the couple then arrived to Manchester Airport just after midnight. And on the following day picked up the car in Crewe.

While waiting to pick up her car, Kristina and husband Dan made the most out of their trip to Malaga – enjoying the sun, food and drinks

She said: ‘It was smaller than what I was used to but it was nice to have a car again.’

Asking if it would be an experience she would repeat to get a car, Kristina said: ‘Definitely. It was easy – the flights were quicker.

‘I had an amazing time this trip – we would love to go back for a couple of nights or so just to have a bit more free time to explore a little bit more.’

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