I realize that this sounds like a dumb question, but what do you do with the leftover English Pounds in your pocket when you next stop is Brussels? Leave Germany to Italy, then to France? If it's a few dollars, I wouldn't be concerned, but what if you have $50, $100 or $150 left over. Will the next country take it in exchange for their money? We plan to use Credit Cards most of the time, but want a little "walking around" change for tips, etc.<BR><BR>Richard

Well if you don't come out even [my achievement last time is Paris was not having any metro tickets left over!] you can change that money at the airport or train station. You will lose in the transaction, but it will be gone! With French and Macedonian money I don't worry as much because I know I'll be back -- so taking home $20 or so is okay.

Airports and train stations all have change booths for exchanging currency.

Of course they will, people from England visit Brussels and need to change money themselves, etc. Basically what you are asking is whether any country will exchange their currency for cash of another country, and they indeed do. I just exchange it at the first exchange bureau I come to if I have a lot, although I try to plan and not end up with too much as you lose a little in the transaction.

You can change any money anywhere in Europe, but go to a bank rather than an exchange. You are going to lose out on any small transactions, so you may prefer to save it all up until you get home. Why not use ATMs for your small change, just make sure you have a four-figure PIN and maybe check with your bank.<BR>You will find that most airlines and Terminals collect small change for charity, as the banks will not usually accept coins.

Yes, you can exchange your money in many places - banks, exchange bureaus, Post Offices, etc. But do remember that after next January, you won't be able to use any of that money again, so be sure not to have more foreign currency than you'll need overall for the trip - or spend it.

Unicef collects coins for international children's charities. When I've flown Virgin, they have a Unicef cup onboard when you deplane.

I can't use GBPs after January! That's a new one on me.

First of all, try to have as little of the currency at the end of each country stay as possible (I guess that's the obvious). As I go through the duty free shop on the way home I use whatever is left for my purchases. If I'm short a little, I charge the balance. The most fun is when I need to transfer and get to go through duty free shops in two countries the same day!

I don't like to sound stupid, but I'll bite: why won't we be able to use that money after next January? Because of the Euro coming out in currency format? Somehow I can't believe France would really totally give up the franc, or England the pound, or . . . Please enlighten me. I have quite a bit of money from quite a few countries. Do I need to make sure I spend it all when I go to Spain this year?

Linda<BR><BR>Euro is coming on January 1 2002 and all countries in Euro-zone will replace their national currency with euro. The two currencies will circulate together for about 6 weeks, after which the national currency will be withdrawn. So your peseta bills and coins, if you visit Spain after February 2002, won't be accepted but will have to be exchanged for euro (free of charge) at the fixed rate of 166.386 pts to 1 euro. After around June, I believe the only place you can exchange them will be branches of Bank of Spain in large towns. Similar arrangement will apply in other countries. UK, Denmark and Sweden among EU countries as well as Switzerland and Norway are not part of Euro-zone, and will retain their national currencies which will continue to float against euro (like US$).

It's a huge sea change, alright Linda - - oh yes, francs will circulate around a little bit in France for a while - - but I think this will sweep through like a tidal wave. But I feel sure that you will not get ANYone to exchange francs OUTside France after 2002 ends.<BR><BR>And of course, the UK hasn't agreed to join the EMU (yet). They can't bear to see the pound go. Still hanging on to the Queen too!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Thanks for the heads up. I just looked at the money I have left. I guess I don't have enough Belgian or French francs to really matter. But I'll guess I'll have to take my Italian lira to Spain and change it in for pesetas, then watch how much I spend so it comes out close. Or maybe I'll just drop it all in the UNICEF box--at least somebody will get some good out of it. And I did SO like knowing I had that little stash that was a piece of my memoroes, and still useful for making more memories! But my British pounds will, thankfully, still be good for a while, hopefully till my next trip back.

Hello,<BR><BR>I always donate the coins to a charity,<BR>the bills I will exchange.<BR>Regarding the Euro: all shopkeepers in Germany have to accept DM till March 02.<BR>After that you are better off paying in Euro`s or CC. Every bank on the other hand has to accept the "old" money after that date.<BR><BR>Miriam

For your info on Euro, see http://europa.eu.int/euro/html/home5.html?lang=5

The twelve currencies in the eurozone will be replaced on January one by the euro and depending on country will be withdrawn from circulation by mid-Februaary or March. You'll still be able to make an exchange at "official" outlets (varies by country, but typically national banks, etc.).<BR><BR>If you have currency leftover now or later UNICEF is a good place for it. Sadly few airlines participate, and not all flights on those lines. In the US you can send leftover coins to<BR>Travelex America<BR>Attn: Jessica Lynch<BR>Change for GoodŽ for UNICEF<BR>JFK Airport<BR>Terminal 4 IAT<BR>Jamaica, NY 11430<BR><BR><BR>twenj

I use any left over foreign currency to pay part of my last hotel bill in that country and place the remainder on my credit card. I always make sure I have enough cash left for my final airport transfer.

I usually give the coins to friends' children.

Hooray for Frank's answer. I was about to think I was the only one on to the logical solution. I always use all my leftover cash (except maybe enough for taxi or somethig) to pay onto my hotel bill when I leave a country. It just seems so logical to me to use the money at its actual value, not to change it at a train station or airport and lose a fair percentage of it.

I glue the coins into my scrapbook as another reminder of a trip. The bills, I try to use up any way i can - candy, postcards, keychains, whatever.