Cancun or Barbados?

[VillaSearchByAbby]

We are looking to go away for the Feb half term. Having had a fab week in Antigua this year I like the idea of the Caribbean again but Aer Lingus have just opened direct flights to Cancun from Dublin (we live in Ireland). So liking the idea of flying direct rather than via UK.

Would love to hear recommendations to try to decide. Cancun looks like the hotels are massive, this does put me off. Are there smaller places? Tend to like low-rise places or Villas.

TIA

PS Family traveling - Parents, 2 kids 18 and 16

Further down the coast from Cancun, you’ll find smaller hotels. We stayed in Magic Blue Spa Boutique Hotel in Playa del Carmen.

It depends on what you mean by Cancun,. Cancun itself is a highly touristic town, but if you just mean the general area then that's better.

I really loved Barbados, there was do much to do there, not necessarily touristy things. We self catered and one day we went out for a pizza and ordered a 12" plus a 8" for a family of 5. We didn't realise that they were American size so the 12" was actually what we'd call a 24". We ate it for a couple of days.

Barbados. I loved the contrast between the calm Caribbean Sea on the west coast with the posh hotels and the wild (but warm) Atlantic coast on the east, especially around Bathsheba. There are plenty of low key places to stay on the south coast which are less expensive than on the west coast.

If you rent a car for a few days you can explore the pretty countryside and see the old plantations and old churches, small villages and roadside places to eat and drink or visit Bridgetown, the capital.

I haven’t been to Cancun but when I lived in the States it is a place where all the college kids go for Spring Break (and don’t have to wait until they’re 21 to drink, so it’s a big party place for them…..which always put me off tbh).

I’ve never been to Cancun, but I’ve been to Barbados twice and absolutely loved it.

Like the PP I loved the East/West contrast. Holetown has some divine restaurants if that’s your thing (I am a foodie). It’s an east island to navigate in a rental. Golf is also fab.

Unpopular opinion, but didn't like Barbados at all. Cancun on the other hand was fabulous