Just returned from vacation and went to my local bank attempting to exchange 200 euros and was offered/quoted an exchange of $205 (roughly 1.02 euros to dollar). This is an awful exchange.

What is the best place back in the US to get a good exchange (or even reasonable). Thanks.

sorry. meant to say 1.02 dollars to euro.

The dollar has gotten stronger recently. That might be very different from the exchange rate when you acquired the Euro, but it's not so different from the current rate.

Next time, put the extra euros towards yourh hotel bill.

I stash $50-100 worth of left-over Euros with my passport for the next trip. Do you know someone who plans a trip to Euro-land and might take them off your hands for the official exchange rate to save both of you the hassle and expense of conversion?
PS 1.02 is not a really terrible rate for cash as the official rate is now below 1.10, though it hurts if you bought Euro at 1.16 or higher.

this is the extra euros I had after paying for the hotel and taxi etc.. in cash!

it appears the current rate is 1.09 which is much less than it was 3 days ago. hopefully my credit card changes will run now and I can get a windfall.

thanks for replying.

There is really no place to get a good exchange rate for exchanging currency. You will always get worse rates than for credit cards, ATM or even travelers checks.

The idea is to not carry too much cash the last few days of your trip so you don't have so much left. Then use the last euro at the airport or for duty free on the flight, or save it for your next trip.

That doesn't help now - but maybe next time . . . .

That 1.02 exchange rate isn't that bad IMO. If you really don't want to keep them, I'd take it. YOu just have to consider that a vacation cost, I think. I never exchange money when leaving unless it's an odd currency I really don't think I'll be needing within the next few years. If you know you won't be using euro for a long time, I'd take the 1.02.

I like having some for the next trip, and don't like being without any local money when leaving, but I try to only have about 100 euro left over. For example, last time I left Paris, AA aborted two flights at the last minute after we were already on them (two diff. planes) and then cancelled them and I had to stay overnight in Paris--those who had gotten rid of all their euro then had no money for phone calls, snacks, etc.

That sounds like a good rate to me since last summer the dollar was only worth 80 cents to the euro. But, I'd still save it for the next trip.

Stick them in a piggy bank and forget them.

Then wait for the nice "ooohhh!" when you rediscover the money in time for your next trip.

If any spare euros survive duty free, last minute candy bars or UK fiction, I usually stash them with my passport for "next time"...which resolves having to ask the question "where do I get a few euros before I get there?"

There really isn't a "best" way, so:
*Go ahead and change them back at what ever rate is offered.
*Save them for your next trip.
*Sell them to a friend or co-worker going to Europe soon.