Prior to the spring of 2009, U.S. passport holders traveling on Ryanair flights were obliged to use the airline check-in desks. This policy has since changed, and now U.S. citizens can avail themselves of the option to check in online. Should you decide to exercise this option, be sure to print out your boarding pass prior to heading to the airport. A hefty fee awaits those who show up without the print-outs. (In all my experiences to date, when flying round trip, I was able to print out boarding passes for both outbound and homeward journeys at the same time.)  

Looking for a cheap and cheery holiday that won’t break the budget, and to a destination that holds the promise of decent weather until at least mid-October to boot? Follow in the footsteps of a friend and me, who recently returned from a fabulous four-day weekend in Zadar, Croatia.

Looking for a good Web site to fill in the gaps in your knowledge of your host nation? If you’re in Germany, you may already be familiar with Deutsche Welle, a good source for not only the latest headlines but also travel inspiration.

Another good place to turn for German news and a run-down of upcoming events countrywide is the recently launched The Local.  This site also offers a link to ToyTown Germany, an English-language community Web site which provides a forum for readers to organize outings together or share tips on just about anything having to do with life in Germany.