Extra Euros at End of Trip - what to do?

Des:

My wife and I always plan on returning - so we put the euros in an envelope and save 'em for the nest journey. Every so often on Christmas and Birthdays I will even go to the bank and get some more. Then, on our next trip we will be dining and say "this dinner was paid for out of our travel slush fund".

Of course you can change them back to dollars - but look at it this way - you paid an exchange premium to get the euros in the first place and now you'll have to pay another to change them back to dollars.

Have fun.

Definitely keep them. If you never plan to go back to Europe either a) give them to a relative or friend who may be going to Europe, perhaps as a birthday present, or b) sell them to a friend/relative/co-worker who is going to Europe. Or sell them on something like Craigslist.

If you avoid the exchange places and bank all-together, you will get the most for your euro.

You could post an ad on Craigslist.com for your local community. perhaps someone is traveling to Europe and would like to buy your Euro.

Expect to sell it for what you paid for it, at least you get your money back.

Don't try to exchange it back, either save it for a future trip, or find someone in the US to purchase.

you will be doing someone else a favor, and saving yourself $$ in the end if you find a buyer on craigslist! Remember, take cash only, meet that person in a public place. Craigslist has worked for me a bunch of times. Don't fall for the scams...if someone offers to pay more than you ask...walk away!

Hi Des,

... you could donate your Euros to a local non-profit organization with a mission to help the hungry in our midsts. If you happen to know of none in your area, we would be happy to nominate the coalition where we work as volunteers (we always need money to buy food). Just send us a note. All the best, P

Some airlines/airports have a special 'bin' or envelopes for the deposit of such money. It is then sent to the charity specified. or onsell then money to friends who will be travelling later. or keep for your next trip. Money exchange places do not accept coins.

LOL.. Kent, yes some of us do come home with money. Its not like Las Vegas!

I kept my Euros and Pounds. It wasn't worth it for me to return the money back to dollars, plus, I can sell it to my family /friends who are planning to go to Europe for their trip.

I'm going to London/ Paris in 2 days, and I don't worry about stopping at the ATM at the airport. I know I have enough for a tube or taxi ride to my hotel.

We ended up with more Euros as well, so we'll keep them for our next trip. The few we had from our trip in 2006 came in handy for train tickets.

I do a few things:

1. I typically spend some of the remaining bills at the Duty Free shop at the airport (since we always try and bring back some cheap scotch or something similar). If I'm going to buy something I might as well use cash instead of charge it at that point.

2. I keep the coins for a personal collection. Some of them are minor collectors items now, especially all the French coins I had from when the Franc was still the currency.

Hi, Des. I returned from Rome this past April with an extra 942, yes 942, Euros. They are tucked safely away for my next trip to Europe (Paris and London) this coming Spring.

You could try selling your extra Euros on Ebay. I've been watching Ebay the past several months and bidders are paying an ASTOUNDING $1.60 to $1.75 per Euro there. I REALLY don't think they're aware of how much they are paying.

If you try to exchange them for American Dollars you're probably going to get shafted. Hope this helps! ~Joseph!

942 Euros on your person,, you carried around that much cash!!!????

A few days before the trip ends, I figure out roughly what I'll need in cash for the remaining time. If if underestimate, then I simply use credit cards to pay for as much as possible. If I overestimate my cash needs, then I put away the credit cards and pay for hotels and meals in cash. I've used this method over and over, resulting in less than $10 worth of foreign currency on the plane ride back home.

We make a point of coming home with euros &/or pounds which we then keep for the next trip. Your first day is sooo much easier if you have some money in hand. I know there are those who prefer to visit an ATM upon arrival at the airport, but I'm not one.

Feel free to just send them to me. Then you won't have to worry about it anymore.

No need to thank me - I'm just a helpful kind of guy by nature.

You send them to me :-)

All the recommendations above are very good. I have another though. When leaving Italy (for UK) in 2006, I spent my last morning spending my coins and small notes on pastries, gelato and coffee at various shops in Venice. It was a fun way to spend a morning.

Save them.

With the knuckleheads we have running the US ecomony (into the ground...) your left-over Euros just could be the best investment you'll make for a while. The exchange rate is probably only going to get worse, and in a year or two when you go back, you will look back fondly on the Good Old Days when you could get a Euro for less than 2 bucks.

We have some Euros left over from a previous trip (paid something like $1.20) -- sure wish we had brought back more of them!

Just sayin'...

I think I can speak on behalf of Jona in Paris, Andreas in Frankfurt, Claire in Bergano, Al in Nottingham, and Regina in France - If you're not sure what to do with your remaining EUROS... and it's causing this much of a stir, based on the number of posts here, YOU CAN JUST LEAVE THEN HERE WITH US!

We will definitely put them to good use!!

;-)

Ciao,
Ron

I'm torn between suggesting that the money goes into theWorld Wildlife plastic balls at most airport depature gates..or agreeing with Ron..I'm on my way for the Friday morning market shopping and could easily find use for those extra euros..But it's probably just best to save them for your next trip...as long as you remember where you put them. I was recently digging around in the basement for some Italian guide books and found some lira that i'd used as bookmarks..and i guess that's what they are only good for now.

Hi Des, well its a great thing that you've been able to spend less than you first thought! I would have to agree with everyone else who states that you should put them away for future trips. Anytime my husband and I take a trip, or go to the local economy to shop, we always put away our left over Euro's so that we have them for any future purposes.

I always bring home leftover Euros; I consider a stash of at least E50 useful for getting from the airport to my hotel and having enough cash to get something to eat before hitting the ATM.

That's the only reason why my wife and I are going back to Europe this fall...we came back with extra Euros and want to use them up!