E-MAIL CHRIS   PRINT   2008 COLUMNS   ARCHIVES   SEARCH ARCHIVES GETTING OFF THE BRANDED HOTEL TRACK By Chris Barnett June 26, 2008 -- Bound for San Antonio or Charleston, South Carolina? Skip the same old hotel marquees and check into some local places that are long on history, charm and folklore. Just 14 steps from the Alamo, the location of the 177-room Emily Morgan Hotel is great for American history buffs. But the hotel's backstory is the risqué attention grabber. It's said that Emily Morgan was a lady of the evening who was entertaining the Mexican commander, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, in his tent near San Jacinto six weeks after the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. Preoccupied, the warrior hadn't posted guards at his camp or readied his troops for an attack by the Texas Army. On April 21, at siesta time, the Texans charged, overran the camp and won the Battle of San Jacinto in 18 minutes. She was dubbed the heroine of the Texas Revolution and said to be the inspiration of the song, The Yellow Rose of Texas. It's also said she was an indentured servant of Texas Army Colonel James Morgan and charmed her way into Santa Anna's tent to distract him at a crucial moment. Facts or folklore? Hotel staffers won't swear to the stories and the proprietor of The History Shop next door could not be reached. But one thing is true: The Emily Morgan Hotel is a good value with extras you don't always find in the chain hostelries. The hotel is housed in the Gothic-revival style Medical Arts Building, a 13-story structure built in 1924 and converted into lodgings in 1984. Room rates begin at $135 a night, a "business queen" is $159 nightly and some rooms have views of the Alamo. All have Jacuzzi tubs and the hotel is pet-friendly. It carries a four-diamond rating from the AAA. Want to entertain and sleep in the Presidential Suite? It's only $400 a night, less than many shoe-box-sized rooms in Manhattan chain hotels. Unfortunately, the Emily Morgan isn't as business traveler friendly as an average Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard by Marriott. The hotel does have WiFi access, but only in the guestrooms. There's a one-time charge of $9.95 whether you stay one day or five. There's a PC and printer near the front desk, mainly for checking E-mails. There's no self-parking--and valet service is a husky $24 a night. On the positive side, the hotel has a no-charge fitness center and a swimming pool on the second floor. Tuesday and Friday are 50-cent martini days (and nights) in the hotel's Oro restaurant. And a brawny hamburger comes with French fries for under $10. Unlike the Emily Morgan, some historic hotels can prove their pedigree. Charleston's elegant, gilded Francis Marion Hotel is named after General Francis Marion, the legendary Swamp Fox who is South Carolina's most revered Revolutionary War Hero. The 230-room property was opened in 1924, but fell on hard times during the Depression. It hit the rocks again in the 1960s and 1970s when business fled downtown Charleston. The hotel closed in 1989, but reopened in 1996 after a $12 million restoration with its name and history intact. Despite its location in the historic district, the hotel caters to business travelers, too. Midweek rates during this hot summer season start at $99 a night, according to Karen Swedrock, a very helpful sales manager. Singles and doubles usually begin at $139. Valet parking is $17 a night. During the Revolutionary War, the Swamp Fox trained his poorly equipped troops in guerilla tactics and hid in the swamps. On July 1, the hotel is dropping its $9.95-a-day charge for WiFi, a guerilla marketing strategy in a city where charging for Internet access is commonplace. Essentially, you can get online anywhere in the hotel. (Like the Emily Morgan, the Marion has a minimalist business center, just a single PC and a printer.) In another smart ploy to capture the business traveler, the hotel has upgraded its fitness center with all new equipment and it's free for guests. If you want an après work swim, however, you'll need go to the nearby Wellness Center of the Medical University of South Carolina. (It's $10 for a day pass.) Want to splurge and check into in the Francis Marion's two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,500-square-foot presidential suite? Depending on season, this regally decorated 12th floor accommodation is a steal for as low as $499 a night.

ABOUT CHRIS BARNETT Chris Barnett writes about business-travel tactics and strategies that save time and money and help minimize hassles. He is based in San Francisco and has written for a wide variety of major newspapers and national magazines. Barnett on Business Travel is syndicated by Copley News Service. THE FINE PRINT Joe Brancatelli makes this space available to Chris Barnett in the spirit of free speech and to help encourage editorial diversity and the wider discussion of important travel issues. All of the opinions and material in this column are the sole property of Barnett. This material may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Chris Barnett. A NOTE TO EDITORS Barnett on Business Travel is available biweekly through Copley News Service. Contact: Glenda Winders. This column is Copyright © 2008 by Chris Barnett. JoeSentMe is Copyright © 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. All rights reserved.