New camera advice

I've been wanting to get a new camera in anticipation of my upcoming Paris trip (in 101 days!). I want to get this camera pretty soon, so I can figure out how to use it here calmly at home.

This is the camera I currently have, a Nikon Coolpix 12 megapixels (it's a few years old). It's a point and shoot and I think I know what I'm doing with it, but I feel like I get better pics with the 8 megapixel camera on my phone (the HTC Evo).

Does anyone have some good recommendations for cameras? I don't mind a good SLR, cause I know it'll last, but I need something I can feel comfortable using and carting around with me.

So let me have it! What do you use? What do you suggest? What camera can you not live without?

RIP Red Nixon Coolpix

It finally died. Yesterday as I finished taking the daily outfit pic, the battery compartment just refused to stay closed. Uploading yesterday's pics was a feat in and of itself. But this camera was a good little camera. It survived a little over a year (and with my amount of pictures that's a feat). Thanks for everything, even though only recently did I discover your manual white balance feature.

So for now, I have a loaner camera from my mom. And I hope that Monday, I can go hit up Best Buy for a new camera. Does anyone have suggestions for a good point and shoot model? I'd prefer one with a manual white balance, but am just looking to get something good with an internal battery. Can't wait to see all the suggestions.