NYC is like London: expensive overpriced lodging, most of which have misleading professional photos of the actual rooms.
However, if you can afford to spend ~ $65 dollars/night, definitely go for the private ensuite double rooms. THESE are the red-walled rooms advertised on their website with dark wood furniture.
We had a nice double bed with clean sheets (and no bedbugs!) + a small ensuite shower --> a huge blessing that we did not have to share bathrooms with other people who leave it really dirty!
Did not see the dorm areas so cannot confirm the tatty carpets and shabby rooms (unlike the advertised pictures).
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