Independence Square Lodge by Frias

The Unbiased Truth

The hotel website tells you less than half of the story. Here's the other half that they don't seem to want you to know when you are searching for accomodations online. The hotel entrance is two flights of stairs down from the street level. To unload your car, you park in a No Parking Zone in the entrance to an alley. Then hump your bags down two flights of stairs to the front desk. You can't get the luggage cart upstairs to your car. From the front desk, you can then take the elevator to your room. Then at the end of your stay, the process is repeated. There was no assistance with the bags. Don't be surprised if your car is at risk for a parking ticket while you're checking in. Next, they disguise their parking situation. They have parking alright, it's a pass that lets you park on the street in a "near-by" residential neighborhood. Translated, that means a 3-9 block walk to your car. Why can't the hotel be honest about this up front? We cut our stay short, and left the next day. Vail was much friendlier.

Excellent Location, Needs to Improve Service

The Hotel is very well located, in the Center of the Mall in Aspen. There is no parking provided and you must park on the street in the surrounding neighborhoods. The room was comfortable and adequate. The problem that we encountered is that even though our room was already paid for, they asked us to leave a blank voucher opened for "incidentals". For example, they told us that they charge $5 for each key that is not returned. At the time of checking out (11:00 a.m.), there was nobody at the Front Desk. We wanted to return our keys and make sure that they would either give us a final statement saying that we owed nothing (we did not consume anything from the refrigerator in our room), or the return of our blank voucher (all hotels return it if you do not charge any extras on it), but there was nobody to be found at the Front Desk. Finally, we went to the "breakfast room" where we found an attendant. She was not permitted to print a statement for us or to return the voucher. She said that the manager was out "running errands". So I ask, why was it that the only person that can provide the statement or give you back your voucher (the manager) chose to leave the Hotel at precisely check out time? We were frankly very annoyed as to the quality of the check out policy of the Hotel.

Guest did not leave a comment.

Olde School Gem

Imagine a hotel where you still use a key. Excellent room, great location, and proficient staff. Parking can be challenging as hotel has no parking of it's own.