We were there last Feb and the weather was great... bring a light sweater or long sleeved shirt possibly for eveining. Dont think I really needed it though. Days should be around 80 -90 degrees and the nights are cooler of course. upper 60's ;low 70's I want to say sunrise is around 6 or so, I remember being awake early around that time and going to the beach and getting some wonderful pictures.

The beach bar is just that... a bar...go to breakfast at the buffet before they close it down.

There are lots of palapas throughout the resort and beach. plenty of shade.

Go to Playinfo.com and check on their tours. I have heard lots of great things about them and wished that we booked on thru them. They are reliable and honest.

Be sure to take the free travel bus into playadelcarmen for a day of shopping and touring. You can also catch the ferry to cozumel from playa if you want. Dont snorkel with the tours from the ferry, book that tour thru playinfo and make the most out of it.

We did not get peso at all. used us dollars which was widely accepted even in town.

You are going to love your stay, take the time to explore all the resorts thereby the delmar.

There is a pool/beach buffet restaurant (with a bar that opens about 10:30), the resturant serves a "cold continental breakfast from about 7-10 and ADDS cooked items (eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausages etc) from about 10-12.

Ruins - Tulum, 1 - 1 1/2 hours south: a Mayan Village on the water including low pyramids (less than 35 meters) and a guide tour. A much larger set of pyramids (over 60 meters) are at Chitzen Itza, that is a several hour bus trip away - whole excursion is a dawn to dark round trip.

Shade; was some natural and some manmade on the beach; more than many other resorts in the area.

We had the Miami Herald - Cancun edition, english language newspaper delivered everyday for free to our room; NOT a large amount of news, mostly highlights.

Pesos: desk will convert many currencies (about 95% of exchange rate at banks), shops give change back in pesos only - as I deal only with US$, I don't know if they take the other currencies directly in the hotel shops or if you must convert at the registration desk. In Playa del Carmen I see exchange rate signs in the shops for several currencies (each shop might be different). So the choice is yours if you want to carry pesos in.