As far as fan placement, I have an idea that I use. I don't use A/C, myself, just fans. Can't do A/C!
I have a round fan, and it can move from being upright to pointing to the ceiling. I actually point it to the ceiling and the air seems to circulate pretty well.
We've never had A/C in any our homes.
My bf did say that running fans generates more electrical usage than A/C, so it's entirely possible it's more economical to use the A/C. This may be something to look into before making a decision.