i create layouts in creative memories software i was given (but you can use photoshop or gimp or anything you like really - or the ones provided by the place you're goign to print)

i print via snapfish as i like their leather bound books - i just wait til they have a buy one get one free option or 40% off - otherwise it's quite exxy.

you can get cheaper options through big w - i've never had a drama with their soft cover books which i use for gifts, but i haven't tried their hard cover books
you can sign up with artscow online - and generally you get free photo books when you sign up - but by the time you factor in postage from the US, it's not that much cheaper

for best quality you'd be looking at the likes momento or creative memories. both can be very exxy if you want more than 10 pages though

you have to find whichever one "fits" you - as i said, i use snap fish with the leather bound books because i like that they look more professional (plain outer, rather than print), and if you subscribe to their emails, you can choose to print when they have a deal. i generally upload projects and print when the time is right. you can add more pages without totally blowing the budget (when they have 40% off, i get a 75 page book for the same price as a standard 20 page so i'm happy with that)