When I first got here, I relied heavily on my (US) ATM card for my overseas transfers. I mailed checks to my bank for deposits, and pulled out cash here whenever I needed. There were no transfer fees, only ATM transaction costs of a couple of bucks. There is a daily limit on what you can pull out. My Wells Fargo and B of A had $500 or $300 daily limits.

A paper check from the US would take about a month to clear here. It's not an issue you can float the amount, but it is something to consider if you cannot.