The floor coverings are industrial rugs, the rooms cramped and old, the mattresses covered with plastic (below the sheets), the sinks are chipped, and woe betide you if you get a room near the elevators because it emits a whine that would startle a dog in heat. So why even bother to write about the Riverside Towers as an option? Because New York City is so crazy expensive, and commuting from New Jersey such a vacation-buster, that some travelers will put up with this hotel’s (many) deficiencies for the ability to stay in a lovely Manhattan neighborhood at a reasonable price (and all rooms do have private bathrooms). Are you among those who don’t mind indoor camping? If you are, the Riverside Towers may be your cup of tea.