Ricoh GR III

Pros

• Check out the Ricoh gr iii, and the Fuji x100 VI.
• The Ricoh is extremely cool, and it can fit in most pockets.
• I’ve heard the Ricoh GR iii is pretty great. It also comes with an f1.9 lens which means it’ll be pretty good for portraits. It’s only 10 megapixels so you have to get the framing right, but if she intends to use it as a point and shoot...
• Hey Ricoh gr iii, they are good for point and shoot. And it’s great camera.
• Ricoh GR III should still be obtainable. Used they should be right at that $600-800 price range.

Cons

• While the Ricoh (assuming you mean the GR III, as the IV isn't out yet) has a larger sensor, being stuck with a fixed focal length for a month-long road trip can be very limiting and frustrating when you need reach.
• I came along to compact cameras and took a look at the Ricoh gr iii and iv, and looked great, kinda what I was looking for but seemed a bit pricey for just a compact.
• Yes, but the OP said they "absolutely need" zoom, articulating screen and built-in flash, all of which the GR III lacks (though it does have a great lens and large APS-C sensor).
• Fuji X-T30 and Ricoh GR III doesn't have animal eye AF.
• The Ricoh GR iii would be perfect but they’re impossible to find and I don’t want the HDF version.