Hi khhome06. Try to picture yourself carrying a DSLR in all the places you will be visiting when you travel. If you find that there is no problem carrying one with you, then the DSLR may be suitable. If there are some places where you think you will be leaving the camera in the hotel room because of the bulk and weight, then consider again. A good compact camera may be the way to go. The S90 (or something similar) is real handy and if you are not going to print anything larger than 4R, it will give you comparable quality.
If you want to go delve deeper into photography, then a DSLR is a must. The DSLR have more flexibility in lens choices, works better in dimly lit conditions and you can add powerful flash - in short it is a system.
Get a camera soon and learn it so that you can enjoy your holidays instead of fretting over how to operate one.
Read through the forums - beside exhibitions, where prices are so-so and service is lousy, there are also some shops to avoid if you are a novice shopper. Stick to the reputable shops mentioned and don't be fooled by special prices offered by some of these shops.