Independence Square Lodge by Frias

Central to Aspen downtown. Clean. Did my research before confirming the property by reading other’s reviews. Pros, 2 min walk to Aspen’s RFTA bus terminus. 5 min walk to AJAX Gondola, lift ticket office. 5-10 min walk to most every shop, restaurant in downtown Aspen. Has ski, snowboard gear storage area. Cons, Room was clean (still very dusty). Microwave, coffee maker, glasses appeared not to be cleaned in between guest stays. We chose not to use them. Bed was pillow top model, too soft for us, no support. Room heat via baseboard heater, will not heat room quickly. Room indicated temp never got above 71f, felt cold to us. The downtown location is a noisy area day / night. Partiers potentially carry on until 1-2+am at times. Maybe this was on rooftop where hot tubs are, not sure. One nightclub adjacent to one side of hotel (not our side during stay). Room windows / walls are not soundproof. Parking is via resident parking pass for period of stay and must park on street 2+ or more blocks (10+ min walk) from property. First come first serve parking. There is a public paid parking garage within 10-15 min walk. Continental breakfast is minimal. Everyday short of eating utensils, no one cleaned them in dishwasher from day before. There are steps down to lobby and elevator. Approximately 8-10 outside, then 8-10 inside. There is no dedicated drive up/drop off area for vehicles. On street only and most time cars parked there. Supposed to drop/pick up only. The property is listed as a 3 star, rated as a 3 star. Summary, travel with few and light bags/gear. Be prepared to walk everywhere (we parked the vehicle and did not use it for 4 days while at property). Public RFTA transport and walking is fine. Plan to eat out always. Most of all, enjoy your travels & have fun!

I had the pleasure of staying at the Independence Plaza Hotel, and it exceeded all expectations! The boutique hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Aspen, the hotel offers unparalleled access to the best the city has to offer—shopping, dining, and outdoor activities are all just steps away. From the moment I arrived, the staff was warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. The room was a blend of modern comfort and rustic elegance, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The attention to detail in the decor and amenities made it feel like a luxurious home away from home.

Quirky nice hotel with a great central location. The entrance to the hotel is on the pedestrian plaza so you can't drive any closer than 50-100 feet. The entrance is a stairwell below ground. So you have to lug your luggage from the car to the stairs then down 2 flights of stairs to the elevator. The rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building, there are stores on the first floor. We had a late check in so they gave us the security code to get in and our info/room key was at the lobby desk. Our room was very large with a good view. We stayed for 3 nights and enjoyed it. fridge, microwave and sink, walk in closet. The hotel is right next to Belly Up - the concert venue at Aspen. There were shows while we were there and you could hear it, and the patrons when they left late at night. Roof top area was very nice. We did not try the hot tub, but it looked nice. Location is right in the heart of Aspen, pretty much everything is easily walkable. Parking in Aspen is a royal pain. The hotel will give you a pass for your car and then you can park on any residential street, but they are not near the hotel, so you will be walking a few blocks to your car. This was not a problem for us as once we parked we didn't go back to our car til we left. The free bus service main station is right next door - including the bus to Aspen Highlands which takes you to the Maroon Bells shuttle. This definitely is the easiest and cheapest way to go to Maroon Bells. The gondola to the top of the mountain is a block or 2 away. Shops and restaurants are very close. Overall a good place to stay, however if you have any physical disabilities this may be a difficult one to navigate.