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South Windsor, Conn.: I am a 41-year-old woman planning a 3 week solo adventure to Australia/New Zealand next fall. My first instinct is to go the tour group route since I have enough time to save for it (approx. budget-$8000). Having taken a few solo trips already, I am not afraid of the unknown but with all of the information out there, my head is swimming. I guess what I need at this point is some advice on how to decide which route will work for me--drive yourself, tour group or perhaps a mix of the two? Any suggestions would be most helpful. I am halfway though your book--it has lots of great tips!!

Beth Whitman: So glad you are enjoying the book! Thank you!!

You have a big budget for a 3-week journey but don't feel like you have to spend it all--you don't! Australia and New Zealand are both very easy countries to travel around and a full-on tour is not necessary. However, to experience some of the diversity of these countries, I would suggest taking a shorter tour here and there in order to see things you normally couldn't experience on your own.

For example, get out to the Great Barrier Reef with an eco-friendly tour, either to scuba dive or simply snorkel. It's amazing and really can only be done with a tour. Kakadu National Park, in the northern part of Australia, is another area that can only be visited with an organized tour and there you'll see 40,000 year old rock art paintings and unique wildlife.

Many of these tours you can book once you arrive in-country.

As for New Zealand, I'd recommend renting a car and driving around the countryside on your own. Again, there may be areas you'll want to visit that can only be seen with an organized tour but the country is small enough that driving yourself is an excellent option and once there, you can book a tour depending on your interests.

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Atlanta, Ga.: I have plane fare to Mexico or the Caribbean and need to know what a good bargain is for a single older woman--I would like a bargain in an upscale resort or hotel.

Beth Whitman: Well, a bargain is really subjective. You and I might have very different ideas about what makes a good deal. Having said that, no matter what your budget is (or where you're going), you'll want to travel during the shoulder season (neither the high nor the low season) to get the best deal with the best weather.

I'd recommend narrowing down which location you're most interested in visiting, and then doing some research into when the shoulder season is. Hotel rates and airfares will definitely be lower during this time.

Once you've picked out a couple of resorts that you are interested in, bargain bargain bargain. Don't be afraid to ask for a lower rate or that free meals or an organized tour be added at no cost. You may even want to reveal that one resort is offering you a better deal than another and let the haggling begin.