The Benson Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (2069 reviews)
Cnr Spence & Grafton Streets , Cairns , AU

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Business center
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Central, convenient location
Comfortable beds
Clean/tidy rooms
Spacious rooms
Strong shower pressure
Nice breakfast area (for some)
Friendly/helpful staff (in some cases)
Laundry located on same floor (convenient for some)
Cons:
Poor sound insulation / noisy
Expensive / not great value
Air-conditioning issues in some rooms
Very limited laundry facilities (single washer/dryer)
Hotel restaurant closed / poor breakfast quality
Some front-desk staff unfriendly or inattentive
Basic finishes; room views sometimes disappointing

Categories

Cleanliness
9.7
Multiple guests reported clean rooms, tidy accommodations and comfortable beds; one guest noted a mould-related misunderstanding and a rusty bathroom hinge as an isolated issue.
Service
7.8
Mixed reports: several mentions of friendly/helpful staff and good check-in assistance, but also complaints about unfriendly front-desk attitudes and an awkward staff interaction regarding a supposed complaint; laundry service was limited.
Location
10
Consistently praised as central and very convenient—repeatedly cited as a primary positive across reviews.
Room Quality
8.8
Rooms described as spacious with comfortable beds and strong shower pressure, but some guests reported poor sound insulation, noisy conditions, basic finishes and intermittent air-conditioning problems.
Amenities
6.5
Several amenity issues: single paid laundry machine for the hotel (causing queues), hotel restaurant closures and generally basic/inadequate amenities compared with expectations.
Value for Money
6.8
Multiple guests found the hotel expensive or not good value for money, with some noting prices much higher than previous stays or competitors offering quieter stays for similar prices.
Food and Beverage
7
Mixed to negative F&B experiences: some liked the breakfast area, but others reported cold/undercooked breakfast items and limited restaurant service (closures).
Overall Experience
9.8
Overall impressions skew positive (clean, comfortable, great location) though several stays were impacted by noise, price and isolated service/amenity problems; many guests nonetheless had an enjoyable stay.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-11 17:36

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Experience the newly refreshed guest rooms at The Benson Hotel, featuring modern amenities such as 55" Smart TVs and stylish decor. Stay tuned for the upcoming refurbishment of bathrooms and furnishings to elevate your stay even further.

Prime Location
Situated in the bustling central business district, The Benson Hotel is just a stone's throw away from major attractions including the Convention Center, Reef Casino, and Esplanade Lagoon. Enjoy the convenience of exploring the city on foot with the hotel's proximity to key landmarks and entertainment hubs.

Gastronomic Delights
Indulge in a culinary journey at The Benson Bar & Restaurant, where you can savor a mix of cocktails, local delicacies, and modern dining options. With its elegant ambiance and outdoor seating, the restaurant is the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the vibrant tropical surroundings.

Ready to experience the perfect blend of luxury and convenience at The Benson Hotel? Book your stay now and create unforgettable memories in the heart of the city.

Important information:

Please note that for bookings of 10 rooms or more, different policies or procedures apply. Please contact the property in advance, using the contact details found on the booking confirmation.

Please note that there is a 1.5% surcharge when you pay with Visa or Mastercard and 2% when using Amex when you pay with a credit card at the Hotel's reception desk. The Hotel requests an incidental deposit of $50 per night, during your stay (as a deposit or an authorization on your card) for any incidental charges, any credit will be refunded on departure.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: CNS

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 2069 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.7
Service: 7.8
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.8
Amenities: 6.5
Value for Money: 6.8
Food and Beverage: 7
Overall Experience: 9.8
J
Julie • couple • au
9
Beautiful room. Great roof bar. Lovely view
Pros:

Room was luxurious. Comfy bed. Amazing views. Awesome roof top bar with happy hour

Cons:

No wine glasses in room. Also Friday night across the road backpackers had a street party that was so loud with people screaming and loud music till 3am kept waking us up so loud was disappointing as you could hear it all night. Not the Bensons fault but in relation to location feral people across the road partying all night

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
S
Silvia • couple • at
6
Mittelmäßig
Pros:

Große geräumige Zimmer. Badezimmer sehr gut!

Cons:

Sehr laut! Ich habe alle drei Nächte kaum geschlafen! Es wurde bis in den Morgen Party gefeiert und das jeden Tag . Die Zimmertüren konnten nicht leise geschlossen werden da sie sehr stark verzogen waren ! Es dürfte sich um eine sehr stark befahrene Straße handelt da der Verkehr schade sehr früh los ging . Schade

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
J
Janice • couple • au
9
2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
L
Lindell • solo_traveller • au
5
It was fine
Pros:

The location was convenient as I was there for a conference.
The restaurant area on level 3 is nice.

Cons:

The airconditioner was SO loud, to the point where even with earplugs I just slept with the sliding door ajar to try and sleep, but then of course the outside noise was an issue. Even if I turned the A/C off the fan is so loud.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • couple • au
8
2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
J
Jennifer • couple • es
7
Instalaciones bastante bien pero el desayuno nos defraudó
Pros:

El baño estaba limpio y era moderno y nuevo

Cons:

El desayuno muy regular

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
J
Joanne • couple • au
9
Happy stay. Will stay again
Pros:

Rooms nice and comfortable and really clean. Love the new carpet! Great location walking distance to everything. Friendly and helpful staff.

Cons:

There was a private event in the hotels restaurant/bar below our room with very loud music till 11:30. This could have been communicated to us on check in with the option to have a room on other side of building. Pool was lovely tho could do with some better lounge chairs and umbrellas.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
J
Jessica Rose Fe • family_with_children • au
9
2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
K
Kady • solo_traveller • au
6
Overpriced and under delivered
Pros:

The pool and bar looked nice

Cons:

My room smelled strongly of mould and one of the reception staff was really rude. The chrome cast didn’t work, there was a lot of noice from the bars/pubs in the street. Lifts were a nightmare.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
Y
yifei • solo_traveller • cn
9
Pros:

地理位置很好，员工热情，卫生干净，设施满足要求。

Cons:

床偏软。

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
M
Mary K • couple • au
10
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
T
T • couple • au
8
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
K
karren • couple • au
9
Great weekend get away with my daughter. On site restaurant and bar was great
Pros:

Clean and comfortable
Great location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
I
Ilona • couple • au
9
Pros:

Nice clean room, great shower and very friendly staff

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
R
Renee • couple • au
7
Cons:

Could not change the air conditioning temperature below their set temp

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
A
Alessandra • family_with_children • it
9
2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • extended_group • au
10
2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
N
Nalan • couple • au
8
Clean
Pros:

Location

Cons:

The roof top cafe restaurant was hardly open

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • couple • au
8
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
T
Tumua • couple • au
10
A beautiful, relaxing stay in a great location — I would definitely come back! 💕
Pros:

I really enjoyed my stay at The Benson Hotel. The property was beautiful, clean and modern, and the pool area was especially lovely. The location was convenient, and the room was comfortable and relaxing. The staff were also friendly and welcoming.

Cons:

The parking area, was unable to park the car there when checked in by 8pm

2026-09-09 • via Nuitee