Changing currency into smaller denominations

[SpideyMom]

Hiya,

Basically is it possible?

Pretty annoyed. Ordered Euros online for basically mine, my parents and my sister's holidays. We specified smaller notes and did not want €50 notes. Also called and stressed again we didn't want too many larger notes, majority 20,10 and 5s. It was agreed they can do this.

Well today they arrived. We basically has 30 x 50 euros notes, 2 x 20 euro notes and 2 x 5 euro notes.

Is there anywhere that will exchange them for smaller denominations? John Lewis who they came from said no they won't do it in store.

I know this sounds silly but it's just annoying.

Thanks

When I get larger notes at the cash machine hen aboard I ask the hotel to change it, never had a problem with that.

I never thought about that, would the same apply though to SC Accomadation?
I have made a few phonecalls and all have refused, saying that 'no one wants higher than 20 euro notes so cant take them'

NEVER!!!!.......

European shops etc are quite happy to accept €50 notes though (as long as they have change), unlike UK ones & £50 notes.

The large denominations take up much less space in purse/wallet, & whenever you need some smaller notes use a big one to get change.

(I don’t buy euros before travelling anyway - just get cash from ATMs as & when, with a card that doesn’t charge commission & converts at commercial rates )

You will have absolutely no problem spending 50€ notes in Europe - unless at somewhere like an ice cream stand or street seller!

Where are you going? I am from Germany and a €50 note is absolute no problem. My mum and PIL often pay only in cash and never have problems.

We also found in France and Spain that most larger supermarkets will also accept Visa/Mastercard nowadays as well. The Netherlands are the only country I know of who don't like foreign cards for payments but you can still withdraw money.

GiantKitten - same here. The only time I had a huge issue was Frankfurt Airport who decided to just issue €100 notes. Luckily the hotel seem to have known that problem and just happily handed over 50 and 20 notes.

Greece, we were worried as we have had issues before

We’ve been to Corfu & Crete in the last few years & had no problems using €50 notes (ATMs there dispense them if you’re getting a chunk out)

Many/most restaurants take credit cards too.

That's a huge amount of cash to be carrying around. With so many credit and debit cards that give better rates without charges, and obviously much safer, I'm baffled as to why people change all their spending money like this.

We usually take whatever euros we had left from our last holiday, use the card as much as possible and then get what we need from a cash machine while we're there.

With that amount of money, I'm assuming you're self catering and eating out, your typical spend each time is probably going to be not hugely under 50 euros, so there's going to be no problem spending it when you are there. And then just keep changing the big notes and use the little notes for smaller spends like ice creams.