The Smartest Ways to Change Coins After a Holiday

We’ve all been there – you come back from a trip abroad, unpack your bag, and find a handful of foreign coins and small banknotes left over. They end up in a drawer or jar at home, gathering dust. The problem? Banks and bureaux de change won’t take them.

So, what’s the smartest way to change coins after a holiday into real spendable money? Let’s explore your options.

Why It’s Hard to Change Coins

• Banks don’t accept foreign coins – only limited banknotes in major currencies.

• Airport bureau de change won’t help either – they only deal with notes.

• Leftover coins are low value individually – but when collected, they add up fast.

That’s why millions of pounds worth of holiday coins go unused every year in the UK.

Option 1: Keep Them for Your Next Trip

The simplest option is to hold on to your coins and use them next time you travel to the same country. This works well for euros, US dollars, or other common currencies if you know you’ll be going back soon.

Pros: No hassle, ready for your next holiday.

Cons: If you don’t return, the coins stay unused forever.

Option 2: Donate to Charity

Many charities run foreign coin fundraising campaigns. Donors are happy to give coins they can’t spend, and charities can turn them into valuable income using a specialist service.

Pros: Great for a good cause, guilt-free giving.

Cons: You don’t get the money back yourself.

Option 3: Use a Specialist Change Coins Service

If you want to recover the value yourself, the best way is to use a specialist service that accepts coins banks refuse.

At Cash4Coins, we make it simple to change coins after a holiday:

1. Send or arrange collection – Post your coins, or for large amounts we provide secure courier collection.

2. We sort & count everything – No need to separate currencies.

3. Receive fast payment – Cleared funds straight to your UK bank account.

👉 Learn more on our Change Coins page.

Comparison: Options for Leftover Holiday Coins

Option	Pros	Cons
Keep Them	Ready for next trip	Only useful if you return
Donate to Charity	Supports a good cause	You don’t keep the value
Bank / Bureau	Easy for notes	❌ No coins accepted
Cash4Coins Service	Fast, secure, all coins accepted	Small processing fee deducted

FAQs: Changing Coins After a Holiday

Q: Can I change coins at the airport?

A: No, airport bureaux only take banknotes.

Q: What about leftover banknotes?

A: We accept all foreign notes, even damaged or withdrawn ones.

Q: Do you accept small amounts of coins?

A: Yes – whether it’s a handful of coins or bags weighing kilos.

Q: Can I send mixed coins from different countries?

A: Absolutely. Just send everything together – we’ll sort it.

Final Word

Don’t let your leftover holiday coins sit forgotten in a drawer. Whether you want to keep them, donate them, or exchange them, there’s a smarter option than letting them go to waste.

👉 Visit our Change Coins page today and turn your holiday change into real spendable cash.