RyanAir advice

"Would you use them again?" - Yes, but if there was an alternative airline on the same route, and the price difference was not ridiculous, I would choose the alternative.
They have to do what they promise, take you from A to B at the agreed price. If they didn't, they consumer authorities (local, national and EU) would be down on them like the proverbial ton of bricks.
But, if you read the small print, you will get exactly what is promised (and nothing more).

• They have a reputation for flying to "any old strip of concrete in the middle of nowhere, as long as it is cheap". The so-called "Frankfurt Hahn" is an example. It is actually nearer to Luxembourg. Make sure you know where you are flying to.
• Make sure you follow the rules about checking in online and printing out your own "boarding card".
• Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6pj3Fdbwng

Try no to get suckered in by Ryan Air's base price. When you add in all their extra fee$ and the possible expense of transport to/from their out of the way airports, using the flag carriers is more or less the same price. Plus you get the added benefit of not being sticklers about boarding times, slightly overweight luggage, free food/beverages, more leg room, and being able to get your boarding pass at the airport with penalty.
For me Ryan Air is a flying torture chamber.

I have had no issues with Ryan Air, but then I take them for what they are and comply, or plan accordingly. My Advice:

Yes, understand where they fly from and land, if it works...Great, if it does not, then don't. Frankfurt-Hahn that was mentioned..certainly not Frankfurt, yes, closer to Luxembourg, but drops you into the best of the Mosel Valley, in my opinion, better than the Rhine and a good starting point in Germany..so depends what you are looking for.

As for their "rules" I have no problem saving some money by printing my own boarding pass. I also almost always also pay to check a bag; sure it is a cost...but the ticket is cheap so even when adding a bag, it is still cheap. and fewer worries about weight. Figure the normal traveller for several weeks in Europe is going to be over the carry-on limit...so just pay for a bag! It is just 15-20 euro if you do it on line.

Most of the people that hate Ryan Air have a story that they showed up, had no pre-check-in or boarding pass, tried to carry on their 40 lb. "carry-on", plus a day pack, and a bag of trinkets. They also fail to look at a map to see where the airport is and seem bewildered as to where they are at when they land.

Point being, you understand the rules, know what you are doing, you get where you need to go cheap, much cheaper in most cases than other forms of travel. Now certainly check out other options, I like Easyjet, you can get some Train tickets cheap by booking early, and depending on your itinerary there may be other options.

You will not book with Ryanair and then "get hit with the fees". Every fee is disclosed during the booking process, and you will choose every one. I have used Ryanair many times and I have no problem with them. As long as you recognize and follow their rules they are fine. Yes, they fly into some secondary airports, but that is not hidden, either. But in many cases they use the main airports, like Dublin and Barcelona.

I would only use RyanAir again if they were absolutely the only choice, I was desperate and had exhausted all other options. My preferred budget airline in Europe is easyJet and I use them whenever possible. The also have extra fees for things like checked luggage, but I've always found that dealing with them is "easy".

I flew them yesterday for the first time. They seemed fine to me - no harder to manage than Easyjet. Make sure you check in before you get to the airport - we bought priority seats for about $10 extra because it enabled me to check in for the flight before we even left for Europe (priority allows check in 30 days before travel) and we had exit row seats which were plenty comfortable. Flight left on time and arrived at Treviso early. We didn't check bags - had carryons, which we made sure were the correct dimsensions for RyanAir, but we were the only ones, I think. There were all sorts of larger bags people were bringing on. I'd still say to follow their size limits though, for simplicity's sake.

Here's a contradiction: It's easy to find grousing and dire warnings on-line, and yet Ryanair is Europe's biggest carrier by passenger volume (and profits are rising.) Vast numbers think the airline offers value for money. That success is hard to argue against.

It was in the paper yesterday that Ryan Air is starting a business class fare program and online ratings of flights.

This is the same guy who once threatened to charge for in-cabin toilet use. They are trying to change their reputation.