I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences I have had in Japan.
I booked a Run of House (ROH) room for my family. The booking description stated that room sizes range from 28 to 38 square meters. Based on that description, I reasonably expected that room assignments would be allocated fairly within that range.
Upon check-in, I initially asked whether it would be possible to have a room facing Huis Ten Bosch. I fully understood when I was told that a park-facing room would require an additional charge, as such rooms are often sold at a premium.
However, after entering the room, I realized that I had been assigned what appeared to be the smallest and least desirable room available.
At that point, I was no longer asking for a park view. I simply asked whether it would be possible to have a slightly larger room, especially since the ROH description clearly stated that room sizes range from 28 to 38 square meters.
What made the experience particularly frustrating was that I had already read reviews from other guests who booked the same ROH category and received significantly better rooms. One guest mentioned being assigned a park-view room after making a request, while another guest appeared to have received one of the hotel’s best room categories despite booking ROH.
When I politely asked why other guests with the same booking category seemed to receive much better room assignments while I was given the smallest room available, the front desk was unable to provide a clear explanation.
Instead, I was repeatedly told that any room change would require an upgrade fee. At one point, I was even told to contact the booking platform and ask the platform to pay for the room change.
This response made very little sense. I was not asking for a free upgrade. I was simply asking for transparency and consistency regarding how ROH rooms are allocated.
After a lengthy discussion, the hotel eventually moved us to a slightly larger room. However, the replacement room was located on the lowest floor, at the far end of the corridor, with a partially obstructed theme park view. While I appreciated the effort, it reinforced the impression that alternative rooms were available, yet no clear explanation was ever provided regarding the original room assignment.
My disappointment is not that I did not receive the best room. I fully understand that ROH bookings do not guarantee upgrades. My concern is that the hotel advertises a room size range of 28–38 square meters, creating the expectation that room assignments may reasonably vary within that range.
If ROH guests are always assigned the smallest and least desirable room available, even when larger rooms remain vacant, then the hotel should simply advertise the room as 28 square meters. That would allow guests to make an informed decision before booking.
For families travelling with children, room size matters. Had the listing clearly indicated that ROH guests would receive a 28-square-meter room, I would likely have selected a different room category from the beginning.
The hotel itself is in a convenient location and the facilities are generally good. However, the handling of this situation left a very negative impression. Based on this experience, I would strongly recommend booking a specific room category rather than ROH, so that expectations are clear from the outset.
