Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
Reload this Page >

What to do with extra coins from traveling abroad?

Search

What to do with extra coins from traveling abroad?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 29th, 2009, 08:12 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What to do with extra coins from traveling abroad?

I have leftover coins from various countries in Asia, Europe, Peru, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions where I might send them? They are small coins, not worth hardly anything. I can't toss them & don't need to keep them & would love to forward them to????? Thanks!
goalis7continents is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2009, 08:40 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I love to share my coins with children I know. It is an educational experience to show them the map, tell them about the country or some stories related to my travel and give them some coins to help them start a coin collection.

Instead of buying souvenirs, I actually try to save some clean, shiny coins just for this purpose.

Also before leaving the country, I try to spend as much change as I can at the airport to buy some extra postcards or maybe candy.

Would love to hear what others have to say about sending coins somewhere.
ileen is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2009, 09:42 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Qantas have a system whereby they collect coins from passengers and hand them on to UNICEF.
This apparently results in quite a substantial sum of money being raised.
They have special collection envelopes in the headset bags - guess this is not of use to those flying Qantas - but maybe some other airline or UNICEF locally can help?
love_travel_Aus is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2009, 05:38 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most airports now have places where you can "dispose" of your unwanted foreign change. It goes to children's charities in that country.
Cruiseryyc is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2009, 07:41 AM
  #5  
yk
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,861
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PLEASE donate them to the UNICEF fund. You can actually mail the money to them.

Many airlines partner with UNICEF in the Change for Good program. If you are flying soon with any of the partner airlines, you can bring all those coins with you and give them to the flight attendant.
http://www.unicef.org/corporate_part...dex_25030.html

Also, I know several American Airlines' Admirals Clubs have a collection box for Change for Good. Even if you are not a member, you can enter the Club and just deposit your change there. Here's the list of clubs:
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...nicef/main.jsp

If you click on the 2nd link, there's also an address where you can mail in the change to UNICEF. At the bottom of the page, it shows even small change can make a difference.
yk is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2009, 11:05 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
UNICEF it is - thanks everyone!
goalis7continents is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2009, 11:53 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,177
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
For others, to avoid this situation... watch as you are leaving any country. I have universally found some kind of donation box that I can drop any extra coins into before going home.
suze is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2009, 02:52 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I save mine in envelopes and have used them on return trips but what I really love is to pass them on to anyone traveling to the spots I've been, even if it's just for candy at the airport or something modest. I keep one or two in my wallet and it cheers me up when I'm slogging through a hot NJ summer or miserably cold winter!
fitznj is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bokhara2
Air Travel
12
Jul 30th, 2014 07:45 PM
catspajamas
Air Travel
6
Nov 23rd, 2013 11:10 AM
Hofstra1
United States
16
Sep 3rd, 2009 09:05 PM
maggie21083
Air Travel
11
Jun 3rd, 2009 11:26 PM
Hofstra
United States
4
Nov 27th, 2006 05:34 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -