My take: it's a bargain to knick your debit card abroad at an ATM for local currency even if it's a USD $5.00 charge each time. Just do more than, say, $100 USD. Some off these currency exchange outifts will easily exceed a 5% "exchange fee, commission," etc. Some of the airport currency exchange outfits are particularly OUTRAGEOUS when it comes to some to the fees. If you can hit a B/A affiliate bank then do that! (there won't be any fee besides the nomal int'l fee).