The Cash and Point option is a terrific deal.

I "bought" 40K starpoints from Randy and booked two rooms at the Disney World Swan property. To buy the rooms outright would have cost $3500. Using "cash and points" and Inside Flyer: $1559 (20K points, plus $300, per room for 5 nights)

http://www.starwood.com/preferredgue...s_landing.html