Mayakoba
- more expansive - carts by staff and BMW bikes
- all inclusive option
- choices of accommodation
- more isolated suites with area for rooms
- lots more wildlife
- father away from the city life - (Playa) and other restaurants
- Mexican obviously
- airport an hour away
- Mexico and ?crime with Canadians (as well militarized towers along the highway to and from the airport)
- more of a resort/paradise feel with the mangroves and canals
- hurricanes possible
- upgrades to casita suite - got beach casita on my second time there
- only brought the eldest there - twice
- kid friendly all year around

Barbados
- suites/rooms all really in one area
- limited choice of restaurants
- really two choices of accommodation - second level rooms and ground level junior suites (really no upgrades)
- junior suites (little more room and really only interior difference) on ground floors push out to the BEACH (i.e. walk onto it)
- probably more stuff for kids
- closer to Limegrove Mall and restaurants/some clubs (and everything really vs Playa distance) - HIGH END stores - can walk to it in 10-20 min
- British twist of Bajan life - i.e. some formal cultural things like people still wearing jacket and slacks to go to the bank
- RBC (Caribbean) around island - not that there is a true direct fee-free transaction allowance because it is RBC, but similar setups
- airport about 30 min away and towns all along
- crime appears to be generally less here overall relative
- more hotel like (building/block) - some villas inland -30-50 metres from the beach
- hurricanes less possible; off the normal route, but not impossible
- brought 1 and 4 year old at the time (and at 2 and 5)
- adults only winter time