suggestion for (2) nights somewhere between Fussen and Salzburg at the end of Septermber

Innsbruck, or in the surrounding cities. Don't forget to purchase a vignette card for the rental car, however.

You'll avoid the Munich traffic if you drop down into the Austrian Alps, and it's a place of incredible beauty.

The scenic Alpenstraße goes across Bavaria south of Munich along the Alps, starting in Füssen, then through Oberammergau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kochelsee, Bad Tölz, Tegernsee, Schliersee, Bayrischzell, and Reit im Winkl. Those are resort towns, and there are lots of places to stay.

If I were doing it, I would stay in Bayrischzell and Reit. Here is a nice looking place I saw while we were walking around Bayrischzell in the morning. I can't actually recommend it because I didn't stay there, but it looks great from the outside. Note that the cost of a room does not include breakfast, which is available, but extra, unusual for Germany. From Bayrischzell follow Hwy 307 over the ridge to the Inn river at Oberaudorf. That is probably one of the most spectacular sections of the Alpenstraße.

Hi,

We love Hall in Tirol, just outside of Innsbruck. We stayed here at the Gasthof Badl in 10/01, 10/03, 4/05, 12/10 and 12/13 for a total of 18 nights. Love it and look forward to another stay. Visit Hall in Tirol, Innsbruck, Rattenberg, Schloss Ambras, Nordkettenbahn trip, Hofkirche, Hungerburg, etc.

www.badl.at

Another area we loved was the Zillertal, a little further east from Innsbruck. Absolutely gorgeous alpine scenery. We stayed in Finkenberg, just above Mayrhofen in late September 2009. Very close to Heaven.

www.flickr.com/photos/pjbassplyr/sets

Paul

Thank you all for the suggestions, it has given me some good ideas.

I second what Paul suggests. We loved our stay in Finkenburg. It was quaint with stunning views of the mountains and still on a very direct route to Salzburg.