gmanbox

I'm the brother of a terminally ill sister with cancer who has three kids 13 and under. As hard as it is for me to type this, it is likely this is her last new years and as long as her health holds up, she decided she wants to go someplace special with her three kids (another family will join, as will I with my little kids, total 3 families). I feel like it's late to plan for such a trip, and I have no idea what 'special' is but cannot mess this up, leading to this desperate thread.

what i know my sister wants:
* beautiful beach/water. she loves loves loves the caribbean beaches, but given the hurricanes, probably more limited than normal. implied is warm weather to enjoy the waters of course.
* something to do for the kids besides just beach. When the kids are happy she's happy, and the kids won't tolerate a week literally at the beach.
* money is secondary due to the circumstances, but I called one fancy resort drivable from Cancun that for new years eve night alone wanted $2700 per room which was too much.

Some brainstorm ideas we came up with included Columbia (cool jungles?), the upscale resorts drivable from Cancun Mexico (Maya culture, cave swimming), Argentina (culture, views?), and Turks & Caicos (mostly water), but open to anywhere. Fiji was deemed too far and mostly beach that can be had in caribbean, Dubai was simply not desired by the other family included.

Would depart after Christmas/before New Years for a week, from midwest and east coast.

Any locations, and specific resorts I could try that could be available for 3 families, would be much appreciated. We'll likely need to book something this week (of Nov. 13th).

Thank you in advance, best.