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
T
Theresa • family_with_children • au
9
Pros:

Location. Comfortable.

Cons:

Drunken first nations at entrance to hotel.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • solo_traveller • au
7
Clean, tidy & facilities good. Would consider staying again on our next trip to Cairns.
Pros:

Clean room, 24hr reception, updated rooms & pool was lovely.

Cons:

Lifts very slow & one was out of service my entire stay. Housekeeping staff used the guest lift too which slowed it down, not sure if theirs was broken too. Location ok, bit grimy on the outside/drop off area.

2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
A
Altana • couple • au
10
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • couple • gb
9
Perfect stay
Pros:

It had what we needed its well located

Cons:

Had issues with lift not working & maybe could do with adding another washing machine & dryer,

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
G
Georgia • extended_group • au
10
2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • de
9
Hotel in sehr zentraler Lage
Pros:

Hotel in zentraler Lage. Zimmer komfortabel. Hafen u. Esplanade (Strand, Restaurants) ca. 10 Minuten zu Fuß entfernt.

Cons:

Poolbereich ein bisschen zu schlicht.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
C
Christina • couple • dk
6
Godt
Pros:

God morgenmad og venligt personale.

Cons:

Kedeligt værelse, ingen billeder på væggene.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
R
Ross • solo_traveller • au
6
2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
G
Gabby • solo_traveller • au
10
2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
L
lauren • solo_traveller • au
3
Wouldnt return or recommend. 4star misleading
Pros:

Not much unfortunately

Cons:

Hotel was quite rundown , rooms mouldy and had an off putting smell.
Hotel is extremely loud. From.all the nightlife to domestics out on the street, cars reving & police sirens
Horrible location. Close to backpackers, adult bars , homelessness congregate (.also.loud at night).
Even with earplugs it didnt drown the sounds!
Was going to switch hotelsbut as only there 2 nights didnt want to waste time checking in /out.
And lady on checkout was not very pleasant helpful or welcoming
No Thankyou or bye
Even had to do our owb luggage in storage.
Wouldnt return!

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
A
Alexander • couple • de
8
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
M
Madhavan • solo_traveller • in
7
Average
Pros:

Location is good

Cons:

Property is old and can not meet the expectations of value for money. Really highly priced.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
V
Vivienne • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
L
Lindsay • couple • au
9
We are always happy with our stay.
Pros:

Very good

Cons:

All excellent

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
K
Kim Le • solo_traveller • se
9
Pros:

The hotels room is good,clearn and the staffs helpful.Very close everything you need.

Cons:

The breakfast is ok not change too much everyday.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
C
Catia • solo_traveller • es
10
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
A
Aravinthan • solo_traveller • au
2
Pros:

Closer to facilities

Cons:

The cleanliness of the room was unsatisfactory. I noticed that an air freshener was placed inside the air-conditioning unit. The next day, I developed a sore throat, possibly due to the carpet dust and the air freshener used with the air conditioning. There was also excessive noise on Saturday afternoon. Additionally, the breakfast buffet was not worth the amount paid.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
A
Alex • couple • au
9
2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
H
Harry • solo_traveller • au
9
Pros:

The pool, the location, the freindly staff, the room and the hotel is opposite Gilligans!

I'll be sure to come here again

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
S
Stefano • couple • it
8
2026-10-09 • via Nuitee