I just realized I never responded to your post about Secrets Maroma!
So here are a few comments (I have a full review of food, etc in my bio).
-take lots of sunscreen. DH tans decently and I tan easily. We took 2 bottles of SPF30, 2 bottles of SPF15 and 1 of SPF50 for 8 days and we still ran out
-We left $1 or $2 tip everyday for cleaning
-If you want a pool spot, we realized a lot of people set their stuff out there before breakfast, went to the main building to eat, and then came back. So everymorning of us would go set of towels, magazines and waterbottles. Enough stuff to make it look like someone was there, but not valuable items so that if they were moved (I think happened once) we weren't worried/mad
-Tip the bartenders/waitresses well ($2-$5) and defintely on your first drink. Maybe not every time after, but this will definitely have them keep an eye on when your drinks get low, and the bartenders (if you tip directly instead of getting drink from waitress) will hook it up with the alcohol. We loved Alejandra at the pool's swim-up bar.
Are you preferred club? If so, they offer hot apps (and cold) every afternoon around 4 or so, when the other places are temporarily not serving food.
-If you plan on getting room service for breakfast (we did the day of an excursion and the morning we left); order it for 15 minutes before the time you really want it. We were almost late for our transportation the first time we got it b/c they were slow!
-I brought a beach bag and also a zippers pouch (kind of like a large wristlet). We kept our cameras in the pouch b/c it was discreet (it was really for wet swim suits so it was polka-dotted). We felt a little safer leaving our cameras with our beach bag when we went for a walk or food that way.
-I was also really glad we had some large ziplocks. We kept our books/mags in these inside of our beach bag when we weren't reading to avoid getting wet or sandy.
Whew, that's a lot! I hope it helps! Let me know if you think of any specific questions.
ETA: We brough $100 cash (60-ones and 8-fives and it was the perfect amount for tipping money for 8 days)
Also, read about scalp burning below!