Holidaymakers today think nothing of a week in the Maldives or dipping their toe in the sea on the Gambian coast. But many do not know their Gourdes from their Bolivar when it comes to foreign currency and this can leave them with unusable cash when they return, especially if they leave exchanging money until the last minute and do not realise that restrictions may apply to converting money back. International Currency Exchange (ICE) offers some tips to travellers on the best currency to take to certain destinations and where to buy it.

"Many holidaymakers get caught out by coming home with currencies that their high street bank won't buy back, leaving them with large sums of essentially worthless notes"confirmed Mike Smith, Marketing Director, ICE. "There are a number of currencies that could trip up travellers, so it's really worth doing some research before exchanging money."

It's easy to assume that all countries in the EU will take Euros, but this just isn't the case. For example, despite joining the EU in 2004, Poland doesn't accept Euros - the local currency is still the Polish zloty. In contrast, Euros are widely accepted in Morocco, but Moroccan Dirhams cannot be bought or sold in the UK. Visitors should exchange any unused Moroccan Dirhams back into Sterling at the airport, before they leave.

The Bahamas is a popular holiday destination, but has currency restrictions that holidaymakers may not be aware of. Visitors are only allowed to take B$200 (Bahamian Dollars) into the country, which is around £105. The US Dollar is widely accepted across the Bahamas, it is best to use these where possible and spend the local currency before you leave.

"A lot of countries will accept alternative currencies such as US Dollars, rather than the local currency" concludes Mike Smith. "So travellers can avoid coming home with pockets full of worthless money. Holiday destinations are becoming more and more exotic, but travellers need to be aware that not all currencies are readily available and the amount they can exchange may also be restricted. We advise people to change small amounts of cash if they are not sure and spend or exchange the local currency before they come back."