I might be too late for this party, but...
Photograhy Blog recently called the Sony HX9V the best travel zoom camera out there!
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/ ... 9v_review/
Despite other posters reservations, I've owned a few Sony's since the A200 and always been able to acieve the results I've wanted (including a couple of amateur competition prizes

) At a certain level of technology, the shooter is more important than the camera...
About six months back I got a Canon S90, which has all the features of an SLR in a tiny compact. Amazingly easy to use (and some very good presets/auto mode), this is the Pro's choice...followed by the newer S95. The G12 has similar features in a more robust body. Both have an F-stop down to 1.6 which means you need flash in less situations that most other cams, and a great dynamic range.
I am now tempted by the NEX range from Sony...a DSLR feature set in a compact micro four-thirds body...but with the interchanegable lens conveniance of a DSLR. Sounds like a good compromise to me...I missed some decent shots of bears in the wild in Kings Canyon in the USA last year as i was only traveling with the S90...would have killed for a 300mm lens!