I wonder whether there's a difference between USA and certain other countries regarding whether it's the norm to email a preliminary bill in the middle of the night. For me, this generally happens in the USA but not always when I'm abroad. Also, in some foreign countries you *must* check out in person, while in other places it's not standard to set up things for your credit card to be charged until check out, at which time you normally must present the card and sign the bill. [Recently I set up my account at check in for an express check out in one of the places where you normally present the card (again) and sign at checkout. It apparently required some additional steps by the front desk manager to accomplish this.]