Please help! New user and looking for help on use of AmEx Points
 

I'm new to Flyertalk and I am looking for help to book a fairly last minute trip. I have over 380,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, along with 26,000 Starwood points and 30,000 Northwest Airlines points. Can anyone PLEASE help me figure something out for a trip departing either the weekend of December 20th or December 27th. All that I'm looking for is some time in the sun either in Mexico or the Caribbean. I am willing to spend some $ along with the miles, but am not very proficient with finding deals throughout the various programs. Can someone PLEASE help? I would be ENORMOUSLY greatful!

Hopefully yours,
Scott

Well, that's a rare one. Someone who's too flexible. Anyway, where are you starting? When exactly do you want to leave? Come back? How many people? Do you want to go coach or first class? Any flexibility in the length of your stay?

Ok, now you know how new I am to this site... sorry for the lack of details! I'm looking for a trip for myself and my wife. We are departing from Detroit (DTW), and am literally open to go to any nice resort throughout Mexico or the Caribbean. We would love to fly first class (maybe purchase coach tickets and upgrade to first or just use points for an outright first class ticket?), but we would be willing to fly coach if it makes the most sense. We do like higher end hotels (I realize Four Seasons-types may be out of the question, but would like to stay at least at the Westin/Intercontinental range if not better). We are willing to go for either 5-7 nights. We would be willing to leave either Saturday or Sunday December 20-21 or December 27-28.

Thank you so much for the reply! We really weren't planning on taking a vacation now but some things have recently happened that only a vacation would offer a cure.
-Scott

Give me a few minutes.

You are AWESOME! Thank you SO much! I've never used so many capital letters before. And, again, I would be willing to spend some $ if it helps get better accommodations/flights.

Still working. FYI I'm a flights guy, not a hotels guy, but I'll look at that, too.

That was shockingly easy. Flights to say Nassau are readily available in First using miles. Cash + points (4k points + $60 a night) is available at the Westin Bahamas. That having been said, figure out where you want to stay first. Then we can do flights. That's not the world's best hotel. If you've got the cash to drop, I'd go to the Ocean Club instead and use the free flights to get there. If not, we can consider other options. Do me a favor, click on my handle to the left and either e-mail me or PM me, and we can take this further. Preferably e-mail if you want quick replies.

Sorry but I can't find your email address from your link. Am I missing something?

I sent you a private message... Thanks for the help!