Its my parents 40th anniversary and my sister and I wanted to give my parents a grand weekend in NY, as that is where their lives together started. We had planned on putting them in the Waldorf, but the rooms for our budget ($350 max) are sold out. Any recommendations for old world charm and grandeur? Would you recommend the Palace, the St. Regis Club at the Essex House, the Westin Essex? Thank you.

Try the Marriot Marquis or the Mandarin Oriental. Sounds great...

We love The Warwick.

The Mandarin Oriental would be fantastic but the rooms there START around $600 per night.

The Marriott Marquis is too cheesy for a 40th anniversary and the Warwick has seen better days.

How about The Surrey Hotel? It is on the Upper East Side catty corner from the Carlyle. Beautiful and gorgeous huge rooms.

Le Parker Meridian would also be an excellent choice as $350 would get you a very nice suite.

Rhiga Royal is another good one.

I would also stalk the Ritz Carlton site. They often have deals and $350 may very well get you in a standard room.

The Essex House on Central Park South is another good one.

The Giraffe, Michelangelo, and Library would round out my choices as appropriate for a 40th anniversary.

Also, when you make the reservation, tell them it is your parents anniversary.

We recently spent 11 days at The Blakely hotel @ 56th and 6th. Its a great central location with lots of good transportation and dining choices nearby - an easy walk to Central Park, East Side, West Side or Theater District. The staff of this small boutique hotel couldn't have been nicer. Book a "King room" for your parents. They are nice size with a lovely little sitting area -- even a small micro and fridge in the mini bar area for snacks. We booked them for $219 through QuickBook.com