u/Capital-Pitch8642

I've been driving myself crazy looking for the perfect island vacation for me and my daughter for June, and just can't seem to find anything good. She is my oldest (20 now, but will be 21 by June) and graduates college this May, so this would be her graduation present. She is so amazing and has worked so hard and would love this break before entering the real world. I also have 3 younger kids, so she often mentions that she wishes that we had more time together just us. I'm also in the middle of a years long divorce that has been stressful for us all, but especially her as the oldest and the one who knows most of the drama, so this trip will be great for the both of us and I want it to be pefect.

I'm looking for something on an island that wouldn't be too far or too expensive to fly to because we would only have time for a Saturday-Tuesday trip. I was hoping to use my Delta companion ticket to cut costs, and then spend a little more on the hotel. I initially wanted an All Inclusive, but I'm finding that many are geared more towards romantic couples trips or families with water slides, etc. I don't mind if it's a family resort, but I imagine a place where we can relax by a beautiful pool and have some drinks at a swim up bar. If the resort had a lively lounge or bar at night that would be even better. I'm not really looking to go off the resort or do many activities, except for maybe some water sports or possibly a boat excursion one day.

The only trip we've taken in the past 5 years as a family was to The Hilton in Cancun, which we loved, so I don't want to go back to Mexico and want to take her somewhere she's never been. I do take girls trips with my friends occasionally and we've recently been to Aruba and Barbados so those are out. Thinking about the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Jamaica, but am open to anywhere close enough to NYC. I have seen that a number of hotels in Jamaica have still not re-opened so I'm not sure if that would work for June. I did stay at The Warwick in the Bahamas, which was just ok, but would go back to the Bahamas since the flights aren't bad. I looked at various Secrets hotels but the reviews haven't been great, Baha Mar and Atlantis looked unnecesarily expensive, Sandals was where I went for my honeymoon so seems more romantic, and then many others that didn't look as modern as I wanted. There are just so many that I'm now overwhelmed, and this is even after looking at the hotel spreadsheet here.

Since this is her graduation gift I do want a luxury hotel, even though I don't necessarily have luxury money at the moment lol, but I am saving and have credit cards so I'll make it work. I'm thinking something like the Ritz Carlton in Aruba, where I stayed many years ago and really enjoyed. Again, I wanted All Inclusive, but have now broadened the search since I haven't found anything luxurious enough that isn't $2000 per night. Budget-wise I was thinking around $800-$1000 per night if All Inclusive, or $500ish per night if not. Is that reasonable for what I'm looking for? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks so much for reading all of that!

Please help me figure out the best place for my family to travel in late July. I have read many many posts, but nothing I've found is quite on point for what I'm looking for.

The background is I'm 5 years into a tumultuous divorce and it's been pretty stressful for me and the kids. I have 4 (ages 11g, 13b, 16b, and 20g). We haven't gone on a family vacation in about 8 years, so long overdue. The youngest two have birthdays at the end of July so was thinking about taking a trip partially to celebrate their birthdays and partially just to reconnect. My mother has also had major heart surgery last year and has since become so much less mobile and is using a walker, so we don't get to spend much time together as a family with the kids schedules and the fact that my mom hasn't been leaving her house very often.

I finally convinced my mom that we can do a quick vacation (3 or 4 nights) where she won't have to walk very far or do very much other than just hang out with the kids and read the paper and all the other things she usually does, just on a resort. This is why the swim up room is important, because I doubt she would ever want to go to a main pool or the beach, so this would give her some kind of pool access.

For the kids I wanted some kind of teen club or at least some activities to hold their attention during the day. They do enjoy water parks and slides, but wouldn't need to have that to enjoy themselves. However, they are NYC kids and are used to being active all the time so they wouldn't want to just lay out in one spot all day (which I absolutely want to do).

I was looking at the Hilton Cancun first, but it seems a little pricier that it might be worth, and some reviews haven't been great.

Also interested in Dreams Natura, but read it's better suited for younger kids.

Lastly, looked at Moon Palace, but reviews talked about it being hectic and crowded and difficult to get chairs, etc. My mom doesn't need quiet, but she certainly wouldn't enjoy a hectic environment.

So any thoughts on those 3 for what I'm looking for? The swim up room is the only non-negotiable (I would get two rooms). Otherwise, I'm just looking for a place that has decent food (we're not picky, though half of us don't eat meat), good drinks for me and my daughter to enjoy some adult-ish time, calm enough for my mom not to feel overwhelmed or have to walk very far since she will be using her walker, and not too boring for the kids. (I also looked at Garza Blanca, but reviews seemed to point to being boring for teens). Also didn't want to be too far a drive from the airport, so maybe 30ish minutes.

Appreciate any thoughts or advice!