Want to write a travel book of your trips?

Problem
Which system do I use?

Answers
Instead of writing a book and then trying to load it into a template, start with a template and load your work into the template.

But which template? If you are producing a book which is mainly pictures and captions, perhaps using your photos from your travels, especially a gap year, or retirement, you might wish to use a system aimed at producing photo books.

My first instinct, because I am on a Mac, is to use an apple system. The only problem is that I might want to send my book to be checked by somebody else who is not on a Mac? Will this work?

In theory, wherever you create your book it should be readable on other systems. I suggest that before committing yourself, and spending hours of time, you make a mock book and send it to your colleague or spouse and see if it works for you.

http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/multimedia/best-ebooks-creators/

Update Comparing iPhoto Book and Lulu photo book

The advantage of the iPhoto book is that the cover and back page seem much neater with inside pages already in shapes so you just slide in pictures. I've found how to add text to the layout with one picture but not with multiple pictures. So I've had to make one large picture with text about the pictures on the other side of a double page spread or even previous and later pages.

The Lulu book was half the price and offers the chance to add an ISBN number which means you can later offer free online editions you can print instantly at home, send to family members instantly, and offer for sale to the public. Lulu had an offer for Valentine's. If you are in no hurry you can work on a book and save it until the next time you see an inviting discount on printing or free postage.