Laminate flooring in the kitchen?

We need to replace our old vinyl flooring in the kitchen. I would love to go with solid hardwood, but the house is on a concrete slab, so that's not an option. A relative advised us to put in laminate. She's had laminate in her house for a number of years, and it looks great. She does not have it in the kitchen, although she says they do plan to put it in the kitchen in a year or so.

The flooring guy at Home Depot said that while laminate can be put in a kitchen, he doesn't really advise it. He says that even small water splatters can cause the laminate surface to buckle or wave. He said we would have to be meticulous about wiping up every little drop of water right away. He suggested we go with engineered hardwood, which he says is not as easily water damaged as the laminate. As an alternative, he recommended the resilient vinyl planks that look like wood. He says they are very durable.

Now we are confused about which flooring to choose. We don't want a ceramic tile floor, as it is too hard underfoot. Has anyone here had any experience with laminate or engineered hardwood on the kitchen? Or with the vinyl wood planks? I would appreciate any advice or recommendations. We are seniors on a budget, so whatever we choose will have to last a good while.