* I don't know the best way/place or why one exchange is better than the other or why (I guess I could have asked that first). I can read what the exchanges say the reasons are but that's marketing. I'd rather ask actual users.
For Me, I have 2 Exchange Options, 1st exchange supported local bank transfer or local fiat trading pair, 2nd exchange overseas to get BTC pair to increas my btc if possible. but for holding, it will be better on your own wallet with your own key.
* but more importantly, I want to understand fees. The fees are clear as mud. I don't like mud.
There are 3 kind of fees
1. Bitcoin fees: the fee that you need to pay when transfering BTC to other wallet. this fee is flexible, sometime very cheap and sometimes expensive, this happens because of network condition. this fees for miner
2. Exchange fees: this fee you must be paid for withdrawal amount, this fee for miner and exchange provider (of course maybe 80% going to exchange provider)
3. Trading fee: this fee you need to pay for every trade you made. this fees for exchange only