Are you heading to San Antonio for business or pleasure?

Skip the same old hotel marquees - Hilton, Hyatt, Hampton, Marriott - and check into the 177-room Emily Morgan Hotel and savor a little risque history and folklore.

The location's great for American history buffs, just 14 steps from the Alamo. But the hotel's back-story is the attention grabber. We're told Emily Morgan was a "lady of the evening" who was entertaining the Mexican commander, Gen. Santa Anna, in his tent near San Jacinto six weeks after the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. 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. Emily Morgan was dubbed the heroine of the Texas Revolution and is said to be the inspiration of the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas." It's also believed that she was a servant to Texas Army Col. James Morgan, charming her way into Santa Anna's tent to distract him at a crucial moment.

Facts or folklore? Hotel staffers won't swear to the story 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, but skimpy on some Internet services and availability.

Housed in the Gothic revival style, 13-floor medical arts building, which was constructed in 1924 and converted into a hotel in 1984, the Emily Morgan's rooms 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 AAA. Want to entertain and sleep in the Presidential Suite? It's only $400 a night, less than a Residence Inn in Manhattan on some days.

The Emily Morgan, though, isn't as business traveler friendly as a Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard by Marriott. The hotel has wireless Internet access, but only in the guest rooms, not the public spaces. And there's a one-time charge of $9.95 whether you stay one day or five. There's a PC computer and printer near the front desk, mainly for checking e-mails. No self-parking - valet service is a husky $24 a night with in and out privileges.

Still, there's a fitness center at no cost and a second-floor swimming pool. Tuesday and Friday are 50-cent martini days (and nights) in the Oro restaurant. A brawny hamburger comes with French fries for under $10.

Some historic hotels can prove their pedigree. The elegantly gilded Francis Marion Hotel, opened in Charleston in 1924, is named after South Carolina's most revered Revolutionary War hero, Gen. Francis Marion, better known as The Swamp Fox. The 230-room hotel fell on hard times during the Depression, and the '60s and '70s when business fled downtown. It closed in 1989, but reopened in 1996 after a $12 million restoration.

What's more, despite its location in the historic district, the hotel (www.francismarioncharleston.com) caters to business travelers, starting with low midweek rates during this hot summer season that start at $99 a night, Karen Swedrock, a helpful sales manager, told me. Singles and doubles rates usually begin at $139.

During the Revolutionary War, the general trained his poorly equipped troops in guerrilla tactics, attacked British troops and hid in the swamps. On July 1, the Francis Marion Hotel is taking a big step and dropping its $9.95 a day charge for Wi-Fi, a guerrilla marketing strategy in a city where charging for Internet access is commonplace.

Essentially, you can get online anywhere in the hotel.

In another smart ploy to capture the business traveler, the hotel has upgraded its fitness center with all new equipment, plus it's gratis.

Like the Emily Morgan, the Marion has a minimalist business center: one PC and a printer. An after-work swim, though, will cost you $10 for a day pass to the nearby Wellness Center at Medical University of South Carolina.

And in this election year, you want to splurge and check into the Marion's two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,500-square-foot presidential suite. Depending on season and occupancy, this regally decorated, former 12th floor apartment can be a steal for as low as $499.

Chris Barnett writes on business travel strategies that save time, money and hassle.

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