Actually, nearly every hotel takes your credit card number and gets preapproval from your bank for the amount of the room charge plus a certain percentage over that. This is to cover things like telephone charges, pay movies, room service, or other things charged to your room, or to cover any potential charges for damages or theft. That's why when you checkout, you either have to settle up the bill at the desk or use express checkout, by which the hotel has the right to charge you after you leave if there are any additional fees to be recouped.

And I nearly always set the alarm on my cell phone, but for some reason this time I didn't. (sound of Boofer kicking himself)