For me the travel packages are where it's at. I bought two 7 night travel packages (cat 1-5) for 540,000 MR pts (180,000 SPG) and received 264,000 UA miles Plus two rooms for seven nights at any cat 1-5 marriott.
That's a transfer rate of 1:1.46 SPG to UA plus i have the free hotel nights. Great deal for me as I live in the midwest and United provides me some great travel options.