Has anyone stayed at the Clarion 5th Avenue recently? I seems to be in a convenient location and I'm getting a rate of less than $150 a night for a family of 4.

All Clarions are mediocre at best. Sorry but it's been true the 4-5 times I've had the misfortune of staying at one.

The Clarion off Fifth across the street from the NY Public Library has gotten good reviews. It is a newly built( under 10 yrs old) building and past reviews have said that the rooms and the hotel in general are nice.

I stayed at the Clarion across from the public library in June 2002 -- got a $95 per night rate via priceline. I really liked the hotel, the location was perfect and the rooms were much better than I expected. My husband and I asked for a different room upon check-in because we only had a double bed and wanted at least a queen size. They moved us, no problem -- we ended up on the top floor, with a fantastic view of the city! Rooms are SMALL -- you will be very cramped with a family of four, so be warned. The bathroom was great, nice freebies (including bathrobes, which was totally unexpected). TV, cable, small desk with chair, clean, nice staff. I would definitely stay here again if I got a good rate. The location really can't be beat.

Just be sure to avoid the Clarion on Park Avenue South - it is a rathole that changes brands frequently, currently hangs the Clarion banner. We stayed last year when it was still a HoJo, and it was absolutley horrid - tiny, dirty and this AFTER the supposed renovation!

I stayed at the Clarion on 40th Street just east of 5th Ave. if this is the property in question then I can highly recommend it at the price. It's a good neighborhood, a convenient location and the staff was very accomodating. The room was clean, comfortable and very nice - every bit as good or perhaps a trifle nice than the Marriott East side. I have a good recent reference poitn as I stayed in each of them for one night back in late summer of this year in successive weeks. I agree re/the property on Park Ave South. I stayed there several years ago when it was a HoJo and it was an absolute. Cramped, not particularly clean and with threadbare furnishings. The Clarion on 40th is a completely different class of property and is a solid 3* hotel. Yes it will be a bit cramped for a family of four but NYC hotel rooms are generally quite small. You could get a larger room, actually a BR and LR with kitchenette and futon couch for a few $ more at Radio City Apartments. It's also in a convenient location and my room was very clean but the decor was old and corny - well maintained but not new and more stylish like the Clarion. The Beacon Hotel on the Upper West side also gets great reviews in the under $200 price range and would be good for a group of four. I haven't stayed there but descriptions lead me to believe it's somewhere in between the Clarion and Radio City Apartments in terms of quality.