Two more reasons to consider the Ritz certificates: taxes and breakfast.

I just used Ritz certificates in California, where the tax is 11%. That added about $30 to the value of my room rate.

And the certificates include breakfast for two each morning. At the Marina del Rey property, breakfast for two costs about $48 a day.

So when you're considering the value per mile, add about $80 to a Ritz room rate.