Woman travels to Manchester via Spain to save cash

A woman from Cornwall has flown more than 2,000 miles (3,218km) to Manchester via Spain to pick up a new car because it was cheaper than getting a train.

Kristina Coulson, from Lansallos near Fowey, bought a car in Crewe, Cheshire, after her previous car was written off due to damage in a crash in December.

She said she was inspired to take an "extreme day trip" to Málaga with her husband after search results showed the rail journey could cost up to £203 each.

The flights for two people from Newquay to Málaga, and Málaga to Manchester, cost about £108, she said.

Despite the extra miles, Ms Coulson said the detour was worth it and she would "absolutely do it again".

"I needed me and my husband to go because the drive back wasn't going to be possible for me to do on my own with my back issues since the accident," she said.

"Trying to get two of us up there cheaply ended up being a flight to Málaga instead.

"I just did a search engine for the day I needed to go and the prices were coming up anything from £89 each, up to £203 each [for the train]."

Ms Coulson said a Facebook group documenting people's extreme day trips inspired her to look further afield.

"It was £19 each to fly from Newquay to Málaga and then it was about £35 each to fly from Málaga back up to Manchester," she said.

"Because we were back in the UK by midnight, we booked into their Holiday Express on the airport grounds."

Ms Coulson said the total cost of trip still worked out cheaper than travelling direct to Crewe by train.

The Department for Transport said it could not comment on the case but it was "committed to the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation".

It said: "While some of our fare types are among the cheapest in Europe, particularly when booked in advance, we know the labyrinth of fares and prices can be confusing, which is why we want to simplify fares so it's easier for passengers to find the right ticket for their journey."

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