I understand the need for cancellation policies (I am a small business owner as well). If the property holds your room for you and misses other opportunities to sell that room and you don't show up, they should be paid. However, I booked a room on Expedia at 11 pm for a stay 3 days hence. Before the office opened in the morning, my travel partner had mechanical problems with their motorcycle and we couldn't make it. When I returned to the site, there were the same number of rooms available on Expedia as the night prior (this was only 11 hrs. after the booking), so they hadn't missed an opportunity to rent a room. When I called they refused to provide a credit and charged my credit card the nearly $400. To be fair they did provide a credit for a future stay (until the end of the year next year, but its highly unlikely I will be able to make it). While this is narrowly within the policy, it is terrible customer service, so don't expect much beside the room from the property. I am really disappointed, so be careful.