I took my Canon sx40 to France for 3 weeks last year and I liked it so much that I'm taking it to Eastern Europe for three weeks in September. You'll find some reasonably priced used sx40s on ebay, but the newer version--the sx50--should also be considered.

For many years I carried my Canon DSLRs all over--to Europe, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Last year, after turning 77, I invested in a SX40HS for three weeks in France and was delighted with the results. I carried it in a great Tenba messenger bag, along with a host of other things. Yes, I used the long focal length when I could find something to lean against for support, and it provided much fun. And yes, I used it sans flash in low light (e.g., cathedrals) with good results. The principal weakness of the SX shows up in trying to capture rapid movement. Also, after releasing the shutter, it takes too long to be ready for a quick follow-up shot. Overall, it was worth the trade-off, and I'll be taking it to Eastern Europe for a three-week getaway.