It’s no secret among the money crowd that Ritz-Carlton’s accommodations are generally a cut above, literally. The expansive lawns and and perfectly manicured golf course greens at Half Moon Bay shown in photo are cut to perfection. While the Ritz-Carlton California price points vary in the 6 cities where you’ll find these brand resorts in California (Laguna Niguel, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Marina del Rey, Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles,) the trade-up crowd can enjoy the taste of a Ritz (and we don’t mean cracker) in the affordable Lake Tahoe mountain resort where we’ve found a room next week priced at $179/night. And if you just want to sample the Ritz flavor but not eat the entire cracker, you may want to check out the events at these resorts. Holiday festivities, special meals, teas, cocktail hours and other such events offer the Ritz experience some hotel guests never take the time to enjoy, but are available to the public.

• The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is an inspiring recreation of a bygone era, characterized by grand seaside lodging. Fall 2011 Price Range $405-1165

• The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey: Sun-drenched southern California beaches await at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, surrounded by Venice Beach, Malibu and Santa Monica. Many of the rooms and suites offer harbor views. This is a popular favorite during the Christmas holidays when the boat parade takes place. Fall 2011 Price Range $309-899

• The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco: In the heart of San Francisco, just blocks from landmarks like Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf, the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco provides a tranquil base in prestigious Nob Hill. Fall 2011 Price Range $459-849

• The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe: The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, perched on Northstar Mountain, is a ski-in, ski-out resort. Fall 2011 Price Range $199-419

• The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel offers a coastal retreat inviting guests to relax, indulge and pamper themselves in the ultimate home away from home offering a first-class, luxury hotel experience overlooking Orange County beaches. A friendly golf cart service takes guests down the hill to the beach at the public Salt Creek Beach. Fall 2011 Price Range $495-2750

• The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles: The hotel will feature a 3,400 square foot Club Lounge on the 23rd floor with sweeping views of the west. A small boardroom will be available adjacent to the lounge area, providing meeting space suitable for business meetings. The hotel will have access to nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting and special event space in the Gallery Collection. Fall 2011 Price Range $399-2100