Dave - thanks for your note about the recently available inventory. Last summer I considered booking a travel package but the hotel I wanted (Paris Champs Elysees) wasn't available using standard points and with the weak dollar I just decided to pass on it. Having seen your note about the available inventory combined with the improved dollar and the impending devaluation of MRPs - I decided to look into this again. Surprisingly, it all came together last minute.
Booked the 270k package for 7 nights at the Marriott CE in late May/early June and transferred 120k points to my NW Worldperks account. We got standard FF airline tickets - business class one way and coach the other - but will keep checking and if BC becomes available will pay the change fee and book it. We will be celebrating DW's 50th birthday at the French Open tennis tournament - very exciting as tennis is a mutual passion. Its been many years since we were in Paris and there are so many sights to see and great museums. After Paris we are going to visit Venice (using Hilton points) and Lake Como, Italy. These are my favorite, most romantic places to visit! Now we're just hoping for good weather