My platforms of choice for trading are Bittrex and Cryptopia, especially the latter. Cryptopia gives traders access to micro market cap coins that are available no where else except Yobit, but I would prefer to stay with exchanges domiciled in the USA or former British colonies such as Canada or New Zealand. I feel the rule of law is more likely to be followed in these countries and there is less likelihood of skulduggery.
Well Cryptsy was in the United States but no-one got their coins back because the owner wiped the servers and then scarpered to a country without extradition.
Mintpal was in the UK, and while the admin who stole the coins, Ryan Kennedy, was successfully prosecuted and jailed, money hasn't been returned to users because he spent the lot.