I booked a rewards reservation for a European Hampton w/ a 14-day cancellation policy (1 night near an airport, 20,000 points).

Of course, I can't guarantee that my plans won't change. Something could impact my flight, for starters.

I'd have been happy to lose 20,000 points if that's where the chips fall, but that's not the cancellation policy. The cancellation policy on a rewards redemption is, "No-shows or cancellations of Reward Stay Reservations outside of the time frame set by the hotel's individual cancellation policy will be charged one night's room and tax at the hotel's Best Available Rate for that date."

The thing is, it's worded in a way that makes me fearful I'll be charged whatever the hotel darned well decides they're worth that night. If some major transit issue happens and everyone in town jacks up their prices, or if they jack up their prices as they fill up, well then, I'm not on the hook for the price the hotel was at when I booked my reward or on the 15th day before my stay, am I? Doesn't this language look like I'm on the hook for whatever the hotel arbitrarily decides to assert my night was "worth" on the day I cancel?

Does anyone think that this is how Hilton actually enforces this policy? Or does anyone have any contrary experience, for example taking a screenshot of the best available rate at the time of booking the award (which I did) and successfully using it to get charged only that amount?

I'd love to stay at this hotel (convenient, great TripAdvisor reviews), but I really don't want to suddenly find myself on the hook for $400 at a $175 hotel just because they said so.

If I can definitely only be "possibly on the hook for $175," I'll keep my reservation on the chance that I actually get a $0 reservation.

But if I'm risking a much higher bill, I suppose I should cancel now before it's too late and find an alternative (sure-bet $120, 0-day cancellation) hotel.

FT'er thoughts on how Hilton would actually behave, given this language that seems to give them license to charge me anything they want in the event of my late cancellation?