Where Should I Go With My Marriott Points?

So I finally have enough Marriott points to do some real damage (about 150K) and am thinking of planning a trip this upcoming year. I'd like to solicit some ideas of what I could do with that amount and would like to see if anyone had any tips for maximizing the points' value. I'd preferably like to go somewhere warm with a lot of sand. I'd like to spend as little as my own money as possible. Thanks in advance and let the ideas start flowing ...

 

I hear Oakland, Calif., is a beautiful place. ...

 

I hear Iraq's beautiful in the winter. It fits your requirements too. Warm, with lots of sand.

 

Just go to Hawaii and write SportsJournalists.com a postcard.

 

Watch your Marriott Rewards flyers; they sometimes put together pretty good deals for points to resorts or places they're trying to showcase.

Marriott points are worth less and less, though. So many of their desirable properties are either blacked out for awards use or require "stay anytime" points (read: twice as many points). I had 200,000 points to spend on a trip to Europe recently, but I couldn't get in anywhere except one airport hotel.