We will be flying from San Francisco to Munich, renting a car and heading for two weeks in Italy this August. We land about 5 pm in Munich on a weekday. Any advice about staying in Munich vs picking up the car and heading to someplace out of town on the way (probably not more than an hour or so given jet lag etc)? Specific lodging advice also greatly appreciated.

hi there,<BR>as hotels in Munich are very expensive and often fully booked, You perhaps do the first step in direction Italy (if not wanna take a look at Munich). <BR><BR>One hour driving south will bring You about to Rosenheim where You will easyly get a cheaper nice room. <BR><BR>try: www.rosenheim.de<BR><BR>Or for Munich:<BR>www.muenchen-tourism.de.<BR>have fun<BR>Gar<BR><BR>Btw: When going by car from Germany to Italy tell Your car rental about this. Perhaps You will need a special insurance (depends on the retall company). And make shure You have the vignette for using the Austrian (or Swizzerland) highways. High fee when using them without.

Gar makes very good points. In fact, some car rental companies BAN you from renting a car and then taking into Italy . If they do allow you to take it into Italy you will probably be required to buy mandatory theft insurance. DO NOT rent the car without telling the company it is going into Italy and making sure you are covered....or you could be in big problems. It seems that car theft is the second national sport in Italy, only slightly less popular than the Serie A football.

A wonderful place to spend the night is on the Tegernsee, about an hour south of Munich, in the pretty town of Rottach-Eggern. Try the Seehotel Uberfahrt which is located right on the lake.

You're wise to avoid the bustle and head on out of town. Diessen is a small, pretty town on the west shore of Ammersee Lake, to the southwest of Munich, perhaps 30-40 minutes out. A 20-minute walk pretty much exhausts the towns supply of streets, but if you need to stretch your legs, you can walk the footpath north along the lake, too. It's the birthplace of composer Carl Orff, and there's a pretty church in town to visit. There's a little stream that runs through the middle of town. There's a ferry boat that shuttles you to other towns on the lake. It's all very "quaint". Here's a page with some description in English: http://www.diessen.net/gemeinde/verkehrsamt/information.html<BR><BR>Here's a page with accommodations links: http://www.diessen.net/gastronomie/index.htm<BR> <BR>I stayed right in town at the Gasthof Unterbr&auml;u - simple, clean, comfortable, inexpensive, and only a short walk to the harbor.<BR><BR>Diessen also has a train station if you wisely decide to take the train into Italy instead.

Thanks to all.

Hi MaryS<BR><BR>I have done the "land in europe an head out" numerous times. All of my starts have been in the AM!. Starting at 5 PM might be tough if you have no idea where you are going, and that is if your plane is not late. Why don't you save a rental day and take a hotel either in the aiport or take a quick trip to Munich by train. Thier are many posts (see bavarianben.com) that give great info on Munich, (or other areas). Wake up refreshed, have a great German Beakfast and pick up you rental in the downtown location. You will enjoy a day in Munich!!<BR>JOHN