Independence Square Lodge by Frias

An unforgettable stay in the heart of Aspen 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.

Great location and room, quirky entrance 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.

Stay Somewhere Else Don’t stay here. Noisy, poor management, disorganized. Club next door- loud at night. 6:30 am trash dumpsters- nice wake-up. Tried checking in around 6:30 pm. No desk employee past (5?). Call the number on the outside of building. They have no record of my stay. Told them the date they charged my credit card and that I’m standing the cold, could they please let me in while they figure this out. No, because I didn’t have a reservation. They finally send someone who lets me in. They give me an emergency room. Told me I would have the room the entire time. Afternoon of 2nd to last night am told to pack up and move the next morning. Unreal. Between the noisy location and errors about my stay, will never stay here again. Also- cannot change the temp of the room. Was uncomfortable to say the least. Friend who booked here as well had equally awful review.

Very highly recommended! Fantastic location, right near the bus stop to go to Snowmass and Buttermilk, also right in the middle of Aspen, so an easy walk to all the restaurants. Lovely staff and the rooms were clean and charming - very highly recommended!

Filthy air conditioner. No employee on site overnight. After turning on the air conditioner in my room I noticed a foul smell. After opening it I saw that it hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time. The filters were caked with sediment and looked like a Petri dish. It was disgusting. I opened the windows to air out the room, but developed a headache. The front desk closed at 5 pm so I couldn’t change rooms (though I’m sure the AC in every room had the same problem). This is basic hygiene protocol - especially in the Covid-19 eras and that this hotel messed up badly. I’ve never stayed in a hotel before that didn’t have an employee 15 hours a day. Definitely NOT recommended.