Yes, a hotel can and almost certainly will charge you if you never check in, provided you had a confirmed reservation that was not canceled within the hotel's specified "cancellation window." This is commonly known as a "No-Show" fee. When you book a room, you are entering into a legal contract where the hotel agrees to hold a room exclusively for you, preventing them from selling it to anyone else. If you fail to arrive, most hotels will charge your credit card for the "first night's stay" plus applicable taxes as a penalty. For "non-refundable" or "pre-paid" bookings, you will likely lose the entire amount of your stay regardless of how many nights you booked. Even if your flight was delayed or you had a genuine emergency, the hotel is within its rights to charge you, as the room remained vacant because of your reservation. To avoid this, it is critical to call the hotel as soon as you know you won't make it; many managers are willing to waive the fee or move the reservation to a future date if you speak with them directly before the check-in deadline. However, simply not showing up is the most expensive way to handle a change in plans.