What to do with Coins when travelling?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Anwhere ex-MAN
Programs: A3 *G, BA Silver
Posts: 2,706
What to do with Coins when travelling?
I wonder if anyone has any neat suggestions for dealing with coins when travelling. I'm looking for a easy way to store 2 or more sets of coins when on the move. I like to leave them in my bag when travelling then decant them into my pocket on arrival.
35mm film canisters used to be OK, but are no longer easily found and maybe be a little small.
When at home I have one of these to keep all my currencies in:
One currency per pot. Not really practical for travel!
35mm film canisters used to be OK, but are no longer easily found and maybe be a little small.
When at home I have one of these to keep all my currencies in:
One currency per pot. Not really practical for travel!
#3
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
I keep all my foreign currency in separate snack-sized Ziploc bags (similar to those in Doc Savage's post, but smaller). On return from a trip, I put the currency-filled Ziploc bag into a larger paper envelope labelled with the name of the country, along with SIM cards, transit cards, and other things I might need on my next trip to that country. Works for me.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,725
I use Bangkok street market coin purses. The one I have is leather, two compartments with zippers. I bought 8 for 400Bhat in different colours. In each are my coins and SIM cards from that country.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH M&M Member
Posts: 2,705
I think these seems to be UK-specific but instead of rolls of change from the bank, which I think is normal in the US, we tend to use these types of bags;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mixed-Coin-M.../dp/B001RYAPYE
I just pop into my bank and ask for a bunch. They weigh absolutely nothing and I find them totally indispensable.
The "no mixed coin" bit is just to say if you use them for paying the coins in at the bank they should only contain certain quantities of coins (1 in pennies, 5 in 20p, etc ...) so they can be weighed.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mixed-Coin-M.../dp/B001RYAPYE
I just pop into my bank and ask for a bunch. They weigh absolutely nothing and I find them totally indispensable.
The "no mixed coin" bit is just to say if you use them for paying the coins in at the bank they should only contain certain quantities of coins (1 in pennies, 5 in 20p, etc ...) so they can be weighed.
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,946
I get rid of them when I leave a country and have no intent of returning soon - usually with the "Change for Good" program when they are collecting for UNICEF on the flight back.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,305
JD Diver makes an excellent point.
Many charities need such donations of coinage more than I do. I fly quite a bit and see various Red Cross and other relief organizations along the way, and I give them all of my coinage.
Years ago when I was flying positive space or stand-by, I believed that if I made a donation, I made the flight. It did seem to work at the time.
One less item to fall all over the floor when security says " Please empty your pockets, before stepping through. "
Many charities need such donations of coinage more than I do. I fly quite a bit and see various Red Cross and other relief organizations along the way, and I give them all of my coinage.
Years ago when I was flying positive space or stand-by, I believed that if I made a donation, I made the flight. It did seem to work at the time.
One less item to fall all over the floor when security says " Please empty your pockets, before stepping through. "
#8
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montebello, CA, USA
Posts: 2,375
I use coin tubes.
You should be able to find then at a coin collector shop or a general hobby shop. Inexpensive, sturdy, they work well for me, especially when I want to be sure to have change for parking meters or public transit.
You should be able to find then at a coin collector shop or a general hobby shop. Inexpensive, sturdy, they work well for me, especially when I want to be sure to have change for parking meters or public transit.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
With most of my coins, I do as does JDiver and donate them at the airport, but I save some for souvenirs. I quite often find coins in hotel dresser drawers and am finding it harder and harder to use coins as even hotel vending machines often are in the higher spend range.
On a recent trip I picked up what will be the last of Canadian pennies just to have them.
When I get home I put them into Zip-loc bags maked with the country and date.
On a recent trip I picked up what will be the last of Canadian pennies just to have them.
When I get home I put them into Zip-loc bags maked with the country and date.
#12
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,946
Exactly! The coin/s I forgot in a pocket as I go through security - so not worth it. I do have a few souvenir coins - Ziploc sandwich bags + sharpie.
I also never give children US coins (well, I actually make it a rule to not give people money as a gift unless it's a local custom to tip etc.) because it crates huge problems for them - banks will not accept US coins and add forex charges etc. for changing money, in most instances. Not infrequently the se kids come to me and ask me to exchange US coins for local currency, etc. and - I wind up hauling some US coins back to the US; coals to Newcastle. Or I may give them to UNICEF - I have a 20 Kuna note that I wasn't able to rid myself of in Croatia next month - next week on the flight to the UK, UNICEF gets a 20 Kuna note...
I also never give children US coins (well, I actually make it a rule to not give people money as a gift unless it's a local custom to tip etc.) because it crates huge problems for them - banks will not accept US coins and add forex charges etc. for changing money, in most instances. Not infrequently the se kids come to me and ask me to exchange US coins for local currency, etc. and - I wind up hauling some US coins back to the US; coals to Newcastle. Or I may give them to UNICEF - I have a 20 Kuna note that I wasn't able to rid myself of in Croatia next month - next week on the flight to the UK, UNICEF gets a 20 Kuna note...
JD Diver makes an excellent point.
Many charities need such donations of coinage more than I do. I fly quite a bit and see various Red Cross and other relief organizations along the way, and I give them all of my coinage.
Years ago when I was flying positive space or stand-by, I believed that if I made a donation, I made the flight. It did seem to work at the time.
One less item to fall all over the floor when security says " Please empty your pockets, before stepping through. "
Many charities need such donations of coinage more than I do. I fly quite a bit and see various Red Cross and other relief organizations along the way, and I give them all of my coinage.
Years ago when I was flying positive space or stand-by, I believed that if I made a donation, I made the flight. It did seem to work at the time.
One less item to fall all over the floor when security says " Please empty your pockets, before stepping through. "
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I've been asked to change US coins for local a couple time. Not a bother at all.
With a bottle of Coke running $2 at many hotels and taking paper only, US coins aren't much use to me when traveling in the US.
With a bottle of Coke running $2 at many hotels and taking paper only, US coins aren't much use to me when traveling in the US.
#14
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: AA EXP, HYatt Plat
Posts: 84
I gotta throw another vote on the ziplock bags. I also have a few extras in a pocket (one for my phone, one for my wallet, one for my camera, one for my passport, etc) in case it starts raining when I'm out and about.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,466
The other times I put the few coins in a leather ticket folio that has a zippered pocket.