Five days before my January stay (and due to COVID), I asked if I could change my reservation to February dates. They wouldn't change it without official documentation of a positive test result (I guess an at-home test means nothing...) or a doctor's note. I wasn’t asking for a full refund or discount... just to change the dates. I ended up having to cancel my two-night stay altogether, and they charged me the first night plus taxes.
I read the fine print when I booked... The hotel charges 50% for any cancellations or modifications within 7 days of the stay. I even thought at the time, "I really hope I don't have to change my travel plans because this cancelation policy is terrible." But I rolled the dice anyhow since the price seemed reasonable for the location. Shame on me. In the future, I won't make this same mistake again. I'll be booking a hotel with decent guest service and reasonable cancellation policies (preferably 24-48 hours), even if it costs me more. I'd rather pay a bit more and get better customer service.