What does run of house mean when booking a hotel?
Run of house means the hotel assigns your exact room on arrival from whatever is available. The rate is cheaper, but you cannot choose the view or floor.
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How a run of house rate works
A normal booking reserves a category, such as a deluxe double with a sea view. A run of house booking reserves a bed in the hotel at a standard level, and the front desk decides which room that is when you check in.
Hotels sell this way to fill awkward rooms and to keep flexibility on busy nights. You may see it described as unassigned, standard room, or hotel's choice on the property page.
What you might get
On a quiet night this can mean an upgrade to a better room than the price suggests. On a full night it can mean a low floor, a view of the car park, or a room beside the lift.
What the hotel cannot do is downgrade what you paid for. The number of beds and the occupancy you booked are fixed, so a family of four will not be handed a single room.
When to choose it and when to avoid it
It suits one-night stopovers, business trips, and any stay where you are out all day. Avoid it for honeymoons, anniversaries, accessibility needs, and anyone who sleeps badly near noise.
Adding a special request for a high floor or a quiet room costs nothing and gives the desk something to work with when they assign your room.
Run of house hotel rooms - FAQ
It means the hotel picks your exact room from whatever is available when you arrive, rather than assigning a specific room type in advance.
Usually, yes. You trade the right to choose your room for a lower nightly price, and you sometimes get upgraded when the hotel is quiet.
You could get a room with no view, near a lift, or on a low floor. The hotel still guarantees the bed setup and occupancy you booked.
For honeymoons, accessibility needs, or a specific view, book a named room type instead. Run of house suits short stays where the room matters less.