IMHO the best use of marriott points is the vacation packages.

7 night stay + 120,000 FF miles for 235,000 points. You basically get a 1-1 mileage conversion + 7 nights in a cat 1-5 for 115,000 points.

Now if you transfer them to continental by January, you get 150,000 FF miles + a 7 night cat 1-5 stay for 85,000 points.

I just want to know how you got a 5 night stay for 48,000 points?