This is exactly what I did as well (I thought it was just me!) ^

I booked our honeymoon (May 2007) using solely marriott points (two weeks in Thailand) and here's how it played out (sorry of it runs a bit off topic, I'll get it back on topic ASAP).

1. I booked two of the travel packages (235,000 points x two packages = 470,000 points total). This allowed us one week at the Marriott Bangkok Resort and Spa and one week at the Renaissance Koh Samui as well as FC round trip tickets in NH and TG from JFK>NRT>BKK (transferred the 240,000 airline miles that I received with the travel packages to a UA MP account and got the FC tix using a *A award).

2. Discovered this Marriott Gold Card: http://www.marriottgoldcard.com/en/l...php?lang_id=10 (the cost is 5900 Thai Baht, app. $158 USD). This will allow us to save a significant amount of money on food, drinks and spa services at both hotels during our honeymoon.

3. Redeemed a $1000 Marriott Gift Check (see? back on topic!) for the 135,000 points and will use the certificates to pay for the discounted food, drinks and spa services.

So all in all, the honeymoon would have cost me over $40,000 (yup, those FC tickets, not that I would EVER pay for them, are quite expensive). Seems like good use of 605,000 points (no clue what the points to dollar or vv ratio is) ^

The Marriott $1000 is great for picking up additional expenses while on your honeymoon! I can't wait to use 'em

I would assume that the only way to receive Marriott points for using the Marriott gift check would be to charge everything to your room and then apply the $1000 to your room bill? If so that would be 15,000 points earned (platinum + standard points) and the Marriott Gift check would only cost you 120,000 points as a platinum member. Pretty sweet!

Have fun in Hawaii on the honeymoon!