Extra euros

If it's your only option it still makes more sense than saving them for some possible trip or stashing under your mattress. At least it could be earning interest somewhere.

You're probably getting lot's of PMs. Take a good look at mine. It's the one with the picutre of a good looking guy offering 1.18. We can meet at the NC/SC border.

Not the airport- probably a local European bank. Maybe an American Express office?

Any possibility of saving them for another trip like I do? (We go every year and this year I get to go twice.) You'll end up paying twice for those euro if you exchange them again although admittedly they aren't earning money when they're just sitting in a safety deposit box!

So we don't fall into the same situation, would you tell us how you happen to have such a large stash left over?

Another idea might be to peddle them to a friend who's going.

3000 is too much to hold for another trip. You will take a big hit converting back to dollars -- could be as much as 8 to 10%. I would hold one to two hundred for the next time and sell the rest. Quietly ask around about over peoples trips and sell them at the current exchange -- good deal for both of you. I sold some extra Euro to a poster on this site from Denver. Try Craig's list with usual cautions about dealing with money.

We tried at the bnp paribas and they would not help. Will keep an eye out for an Amex office. We won't be returning to Europe for a year and have no idea what the euro will do in the meantime. We have so much because we scheduled Monte Carlo casino at the end of the trip and we got lucky :). hindsight being 20/20 would recommnd starting there.

Super damn good for you!!!!

Should not complain as 2 hours paid for our entire trip to France for 2 weeks

Check with the foreign language departments at local colleges and universities. They usually have faculty who go to the eurozone on a regular basis. You might have to make several exchanges to get rid of tha many euros. Of course, if I had 3,000 euros, I would already be planning my next trip.

3000 Euros is a lot. My suggestion is, see if you can open an account at a French bank and put your Euros there. If a bank will give you a checking account with a debit card, you can use it next time you go to Europe.

A couple of years ago, I was able to open an account at CitiBank in Spain, just by showing my passport. The account has proved really useful to me.

If you try to exchange the Euros back to Dollars, you will take a big hit on the exchange rate. If you can't put them in a French bank, best to just keep them and hide them under your mattress at home!

The hit you will take by exchanging them is negligible when you factor in what could happen to exchange rates before you could use them later, and the fact that your money is tied up in the meantime while you wait for a possible future trip. If you can't exchange at a local bank just bite the bullet and do it at the airport before you leave.

"The hit you will take by exchanging them is negligible when you factor in what could happen to exchange rates before you could use them later, and the fact that your money is tied up in the meantime while you wait for a possible future trip. If you can't exchange at a local bank just bite the bullet and do it at the airport before you leave."

I'm sorry, but, this is terrible advice. The hit is NOT negligible. Example: Bank of America's rate to buy Euros today is $1.29, but they only give you $1.16 per Euro if you want to change Euros back to Dollars. That's a total ripoff!

Even worse would be exchanging you Euros at an airport. Exchange bureaus at airports give a horrible rate.

Tina, my family and I are taking a trip to Europe in about 1 month. I would buy $1000 worth from you at $1.20 per if that sounds good to you. If not, let's talk! I can't stand to pay BOA's rate. Thanks.

Are we missing something here? If you won the money at the casino, it is a windfall and not money you "need". Any exchange loss merely reduces the excess you have at the end of the trip. On the other hand, keeping it for a future trip is a subsidy for that trip, regardless of how far away it is or what the exchange rate is at that time.

Your best bet is either to sell them to a private party in the U.S., or to stick them in a safe deposit box until your next trip.

Selling them to a U.S. bank and depositing the proceeds into an interest bearing account makes no sense, because the interest you'll earn in a year at today's rates will be so little, that you'll never make up for what you lose in the initial exchange with the bank.

The absolute worst thing you could do would be to exchange them at an airport currency exchange.

Using Tyler's figures, Bank of America takes about 6% to buy back your euros, about €180 ($220) on €3000 ($3700). It is not the worst exchange rate in the world. Consider it.

Although many exchange bureaus are rip off artists, especially to tourists with American accents, some offer good rates. Rates are often better for those buying dollars than for those selling dollars. The rates can also be negotiated. You might shop around eurozone currency exchanges.

The proper question to ask is "How many US dollars do I receive for €3000?" This question cuts out all question of exchange rates and fees. Any offer of over $3500 would be attractive. Consider asking for even more. Most importantly, recount your US dollars very carefully in full view of the seller. Do not let yourself be rushed. Some cash dealers are experts at short changing customers. You have the advantage of knowing exactly what US currency looks like.

$3500 will make a big stack of currency. Good luck whatever you do.

Note to self: Must add Monte Carlo into the my itinerary!!

So an update now that I am back in the US. I still have the euros :) The Hyatt CDG was offering 1 euro to $0.958 (absolutely ridiculous!) The exchange at the airport was ~$1.09. Worst case scenario, I will deposit at BOA for $1.16, but there are some people interested in buying. I think the recommendation to open a foreign account and deposit would have been the wisest option if I had more time.

Thanks for all your help!

What about a bank like UBS? They have branches all over the world, and I just looked on their website and there is one in Baltimore. I don't know if you need to sell them your Euros and open an account with dollars, or if you can open an account with Euros, but I'd think almost anything's better than BofA.

"What about a bank like UBS? They have branches all over the world, and I just looked on their website and there is one in Baltimore. I don't know if you need to sell them your Euros and open an account with dollars, or if you can open an account with Euros, but I'd think almost anything's better than BofA. "

You will have trouble finding a bank for your Euros that does not charge either a big monthly fee, or requires a big deposit. I think HSBC has Euro accounts, but it's expensive.

Citibank in Spain is the best deal I have found. They have a checking account that is free of fees if you maintain a 3,000 Euro balance; otherwise, 7.50 Euros a month. Comes with a Euro debit card.

I don't know if they will do this by mail. I opened mine in person in Barcelona.

If interested, you might give them a call. I think they will find somebody who speaks English. Their website with phone numbers is http://www.citibank.com/spain/consumer/spanish/atencion/index.htm.

Tina, you may find slightly better rates with Wells Fargo than with Bank of America. Some of the bigger local Wells Fargo branches recently began stocking foreign currencies. It won't take long to get a comparison price quote.

My only comment is to Chip who seems to believe that exchange bureaus give different rates to people if they are American. This is untrue. Rates are posted. Where did this happen? As to counting your money, this is a given no matter where you are banking. Mistakes happen. One should always count their money after a transaction, even in the US. I can't imagine not counting my money.

Putting the money in a safe deposit box sounds good unless you find someone to buy them from you. If you should see the rate starting to drop a lot, then you could exchange them at your bank.

ye sthat's a lot of money left.
Try Chase bank. They deal more with foreing exchange, but they charge high commision.

Although I am not a Nigerian Prince; I am a representative for a special fund for Americans Traveling to Europe. If you would like to make a donation to our very worthy cause; please contact us :)

Are we missing something here? If you won the money at the casino, it is a windfall and not money you "need". Any exchange loss merely reduces the excess you have at the end of the trip. On the other hand, keeping it for a future trip is a subsidy for that trip, regardless of how far away it is or what the exchange rate is at that time.

I agree with this. how lucky for you! I would just put it in a safety deposit box or safe and use it for next time. if you are planning another trip in the next couple years, you will use a good chunk of that. Short of just keeping the cash for yourself, I would think selling it would be the best option.

I love these boards. Just when I was thinking about posting a similar question, here's some great answers. I'm quite a gambler myself and occasionally even win (paying for this trip with casino winnings actually). Hopefully I'll have Tina's "problem" to deal with myself!

Thanks to everyone for all the great advice!