Points Question-Which Makes More Sense?
 

I can't wrap my head around this. Want to stay at Category 7 property for 5 nights.

Should I use and upgrade my Marriott Cat. 5 Package of 1 free week? That would cost me 60,000 additional points
and I would not be able to use 2 of the nights.

OR, Should I use 140,000 points for the stay and save the one week. Thank you for any thoughts!

You could try and convert your 7 night cat 5 package into one of the secret 5 night cat 7 packages. YMMV though. What are the room rates like?

Room would cost $300 a night. I would love to try and convert-will call and report back.

Both options make sense. The deciding factor is what else you could do with the package or points. If you book this reservation for 5 nights @ 140k points, will you be able to use the Cat-5 travel package for another worthwhile trip before it expires? (Consider that MR usually grants one 1-year renewal on TPs.)

Yes, I can use the Cat-5 week but for my next trip want to stay at a Cat. 9!

Tried to get the "secret" award of 5 nights, cat 7 and they said that it was only for time share owners.

The hotel cert can easily be upgraded to Cat 9. Just call Marriott Customer Service and they should be able to help you do that and even link it to your future Cat. 9 hotel reservation (if you have already made that reservation.) So if you think you will be able to use all 7 of the nights for a later trip by upgrading your TP hotel cert, I'd go that route.

Thanks hhoope1, that is exactly my plan.