Friday News Roundup 21 March

The week ends with new opportunities and final chances. This Friday roundup captures the best deals, expiring offers, and weekend travel news for 21 March 2026.

Last Chance Deals

Eurostar Group Discount Ends Tonight

20% off Standard Premier for groups of 4+. Book by midnight for travel through June. Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam all included.

Jet2holidays Sale Closes Sunday

April departures up to 40% off. All-inclusive packages. Must travel within 3 weeks of booking.

Marriott Points Bonus Ends

30% extra points on purchases. Deadline midnight tonight. Useful for high-value hotel redemptions.

New This Week

Ryanair Summer Schedule Expansion

New routes from London Stansted to Tirana (Albania), Podgorica (Montenegro), and Varna (Bulgaria). Introductory fares from £19.99. On sale Monday.

British Airways Avios Sale

Redeem Avios for 25% fewer points on selected European routes. London to Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh included. Travel 1 April through 31 May.

Tesco Clubcard Travel Boost

Clubcard points worth 3x face value on Eurotunnel and P&O Ferries redemptions through April. Exchange vouchers online.

Transport Updates

Easter Rail Engineering Works Announced

Network Rail published Easter weekend engineering schedule. Major closures:

West Coast Main Line (Crewe-Stafford)
Great Western Main Line (Reading-Swindon)
East Coast Main Line (Peterborough-Doncaster)

Plan alternative routes for Good Friday and Easter Monday travel.

Avanti West Coast Timetable Changes

New timetable effective 1 April. Additional services Manchester-London and Glasgow-London. Journey times reduced by 10-15 minutes on some routes.

CrossCountry Improvements

New faster services Birmingham-Leeds and Bristol-Manchester from April. Journey times cut by 20-30 minutes.

Theme Park News

Thorpe Park Opening Day Success

Thursday's opening day reported strong attendance despite regional train disruptions. The Launchpad relaxation zone well-received. Fright Nights 2026 dates (4 Oct-2 Nov) announced.

Disneyland Paris Passholder Previews Active

World of Frozen previews continue through 25 March. Public opening 29 March alongside Disney Adventure World. Eurostar reporting record bookings.

Alton Towers Easter Preparations

Hotel 95% booked for Easter weekend. Day ticket availability remains but advance booking essential. Extended hours (until 20:00) confirmed for Easter week.

Travel Money

Sterling Update

Pound steady at €1.21 and $1.27. No significant movement expected before Easter. Bank of England next meeting 21 March; rate decision may affect exchange rates next week.

Eurozone Inflation Data

Tuesday's release showed inflation easing slightly. Euro remains stable against sterling. Good time to buy euros for Easter travel.

Insurance Updates

Post Office Travel Insurance Flash Sale

Weekend-only: 25% off annual multi-trip policies. European cover from £30. Use code WEEKEND25.

Columbus Direct Extended Sale

Previous sale extended through weekend. European annual from £25. Code SPRING15 for extra discount.

Weekend Weather

Saturday 22 March:

England and Wales: Cloudy start, sunny intervals developing. 12-15°C. Light winds.

Scotland: Showers in west, brighter east. 9-12°C.

Northern Ireland: Cloudy, patchy rain. 10-13°C.

Sunday 23 March:

England and Wales: Increasing cloud, rain possible west by evening. 11-14°C.

Scotland: Bright spells, scattered showers. 8-11°C.

Northern Ireland: Rain clearing to brighter conditions. 9-12°C.

Decent early spring weather. Pack layers and light waterproof.

Credit Card Updates

Amex Gold Enhanced Offer Continues

25,000 points welcome bonus (was 20,000) continues through weekend. First year free. Apply by Sunday for full eligibility.

Chase Bank Referral Programme

Existing customers can now refer friends for £20 bonus each. New customers get 1% cashback first year. No annual fee.

Ferry and Cross-Channel

Dover-Calais Easter Booking Window

Peak Easter dates (18-21 April) filling fast. Car plus 2 currently £89 return weekend, £59 midweek. Prices rise as availability tightens.

Eurotunnel Flexiplus Value

Turn-up-and-go flexibility worth £50+ premium for Easter travel. No fixed departure time; arrive when convenient. Reduces stress if traffic delays.

Bottom Line

This weekend offers final chances on several March deals. The Eurostar group discount and Marriott points bonus both expire tonight. Easter engineering works now confirmed; check your routes if travelling bank holiday weekend.

Next week brings the main event: Disney Adventure World opens Saturday 29 March. Coverage continues daily.

Have a good weekend.

---

Final calls:

*Deals accurate at publication. Check terms before booking.*