You’ve just finished a tour and you’re sitting in the airport. You’re a little tired, and you’re looking forward to sleeping in your own bed, but you can’t stop smiling when you think back to what you’ve just seen and done. Your flight doesn’t leave for another hour, and you have all your foreign currency ready for conversion back to U.S. Dollars…except…what about these coins?
Most currency exchange kiosks, especially in airports, will not convert foreign coins into U.S. Dollars. To Americans, a coin is almost always a fraction of a whole dollar, so we can fall victim to thinking that the pile of change in our pocket isn’t worth all that much; to others around the globe, especially those in the Euro zone, coins often take the place of lower denomination bills, meaning the coins in your pocket could be worth more than you think. The two-Euro coin is roughly equal in size and only slightly heavier than the American quarter, which can trick your brain into thinking you don’t have much money left to exchange. In reality, two two-Euro coins—which weigh about the same as three quarters—is worth around $5 at current exchange rates. And if you fly back home with a small handful of high-denomination coins, you could find yourself with some unexpected souvenirs in the form of coins you can’t use.
Never fear! If you’ve got some extra money burning a hole in your pocket at the end of your trip, Go Ahead’s staff is here to offer some helpful tips on how to get the most bang for your buck.
- Tip your Tour Director and drivers! Show your appreciation for the dedicated professionals who took care of the details so you could enjoy your vacation!
- Donate to a charity. Most airports make it easy to drop a few coins into a collection box.
- Hit the duty-free shop. Airport duty-free shops offer a tax-free haven where you can buy a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates and much more. They’re a great—and cheap!—way to pick up something to remember your trip by.
- Support a street performer! Towards the end of your trip, if you know you’ve got some coins left over, take in a street performance. Whether it’s an undiscovered violin virtuoso, a local dance troupe or just someone in an outlandish costume, you can support local artists and punctuate your memories of your destination by adding a human touch. Street performers can also make for great photo ops, so be sure to bring your camera.
- When life gives you lemons… If you just can’t find a way to spend the last of your foreign coinage, consider giving the remaining coins to friends and family as gifts. It’ll save you a trip to a souvenir store!
Have you ever found yourself about to return home with a pocketful of change? What did you do with your extra coins? Leave us a comment and let us know!
















