Snoopy, I agree with your last reply.I am glad that chose to re-phrase what you had posted earlier as it came across very self centered to me (IMO).
As far as your question as what would I do if the cancelation policy said 24 hours? I sorta agree with you although one could think the entire reservation would have had to be canceled 24 hours prior to your scheduled arrival time. That could only be determined by the verbage in the cancelation policy..

Understanding that this is all just for arguments sake:

GARYNFLA is making sense, but relying on the policy can be unclear. For example what started this whole thread was this cancellation policy, taken from a certain Venice hotel:

"From Reservation to 8 days before check-in: cancellation Fee: 0%
from 7 days to 0 hours before check-in: 1 night
No show: 1 night

Well, the case I described does not quite fit either of these. You're not cancelling the whole reservation, nor are you a no-show. So I still say if they charge you, it's STINKY.

Kt Kat, the greatest thing about this board is that we are each allowed to post "our" opinions and I respect your right to disagree with mine. Does that change my opinion? Heck NO..If it were my hotel and someone checked out of a 3 night reservation after 2 nights I would charge them unless the excuse was reasonable or if I were positive I could rent the room.
I reserved a large home for a family re-union and had to cancel 2 weeks in advance and they required a 30 day notice as stated upfront. They said if they were able to rent it they would refund my $1000.00 deposit. They rented it and I got my refund. I have rented the same property twice since then and referred several travelers to them. I think they did the right thing.

*Mattsigel* since you started this topic let me ask you what was the reasoning behind booking 3 nights and only staying 2 to start with?? Perhaps that will help clear up the question. After re-reading your 2nd post of the same subject,if you did not like the place you would have left after 1 night.
I don't understand your reasoning for leaving early??

mattsigel, we recently did just what your post said and no, they weren't stinky at all. We were in Italy and although we booked a room in the Tuscan countryside for 4 nights, after 3, we were ready to move on. I asked the proprietor, slighty less than 24 hours in advance, if there would be a charge for an early departure, and he replied " there will be no problem, madame". Not stinky at all! Have a great trip.

Thanks everyone. Leaving for the airport in two hours.

Will post trip report upon return.

KT_TAK

Have a wonderful safe trip and be sure and tell us about it when you return.
Happy Travels,
Gary

Good one, tom! Har!!

No, actually, when the Scandinavia called (on a Tuesday morning) and said they'd have a room for me on Thursday, I called the front desk of the Sophie Amalie and explained that I wouldn't need the room after Wednesday and they said fine. When I went to check out on Wednesday morning, I was told I'd have to pay for the remainder of my stay. That's when I asked them to produce their policy . . . they did . . . they also had a record of me giving them 24 hours notice . . . they BEGRUDGINGLY closed out my bill. THAT's one of the reasons I initially answered the question with a little venom . . . tom.

The best answer is to check with the hotel directly because it will vary from establishment to establishment.

It will also depend on the SIZE of the hotel - a small hotel will probably have a stricter cancellation policy than a 200-room chain hotel.