The best exchange rate that I found was in the exchange bureau on Cyrill Magnin Way, a couple of stores up from the Bank of America at the corner. I did compare the rate with the BofA and would never use the BofA for any foreign transactions.

I've never found it necessary to have local currency before arriving at a foreign destination. I sometimes, but not always, have a little currency (under $30 worth) left from the previous trip. But its just so easy to use the airport ATMs upon arrival, and if they don't work for some reason, go to the airport bank or exchange booth and exchange $60 or so just to get started.

There are some of us who would rather have some euro ahead of arrival specifically so that we don't have to line up at the ATM or go to exchange bureaus in the airport.

I see no reason not to get a few euros over here. In my experience, going to a bank window results in just high a cost for the exchange as I would pay here at home. You must either cash a traveler's check or convert paper currency. European banks are going to charge you for that service. Moreover the exchange rate at those "cambrios" in many places are not very favorable.