The Benson Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (2044 reviews)
Cnr Spence & Grafton Streets , Cairns , au

listing image 1
Show all photos
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 2044 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
Y
Yvette • solo_traveller • au
10
Pros:

Location was great 5 minute walk to the Marina.
Cheeky cocktail in the hotel bar before going out.

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
S
Srinivasulu • family_with_children • au
2
2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
B
Beaudyl • couple • au
10
Pros:

Have stayed many times at the Benson before & it’s a lovely place to stay! Check in is always super quick with such great staff & very central to the city.

Cons:

No complaints

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
L
Luís Filipe • extended_group • au
7
Pros:

The rooms were big and spacious and they were also super super clean. The breakfast is amazing and the staff is superb they made us feel very welcome.

Cons:

The hotel is really well located but that comes with an issue which is on weekend you can hear a lot of noise from people in the streets. The hotel is also right next to a garbage truck pick up which woke us up at night

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
G
Greg • couple • au
10
Great location and great value
Pros:

Location and super helpful staff

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • solo_traveller • au
7
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
P
Paolo • solo_traveller • it
8
Centralissimo
Pros:

Camera grande e molto bella. Posizione centralissima vicino a tutto quello che può servire. Letti comodi. Ottima insonorizzazione.

Cons:

Il "servizio lavanderia" consiste in una singola lavatrice e una singola asciugatrice per l'intero hotel (a pagamento): abbiamo dovuto fare la coda per farci il bucato.
I pulsanti dell'ascensore tendevano a non funzionare e bisognava premerli diverse volte.

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
佳慧 • family_with_children • tw
8
Chen in時 ，服務人員態度不太親切！
Pros:

位置方便

Cons:

櫃檯服務人員態度

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
C
Charlee - Shae • couple • au
10
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
K
kelly • couple • au
10
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
L
Lillian • solo_traveller • au
10
2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
H
Hwee Peng • solo_traveller • sg
9
Pros:

Comfortable bed, clean rooms, nice breakfast area

Cons:

The sound insulation

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jacinta • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
M
Martha • solo_traveller • au
10
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
F
Frank • couple • au
6
It was ok for 4 day stay
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Price
Beds
Mattresses

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
G
Gus • solo_traveller • au
8
Pros:

Good

Cons:

Good

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
K
Kelli • solo_traveller • au
3
Book elsewhere
Pros:

On the positive side, the location is convenient, the rooms are spacious, and the shower pressure is exceptionally strong—almost “blast you against the wall” strong!

Cons:

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel if a good night’s sleep matters to you.

I moved rooms after two nights because of the noise, but the second room was no better. The lack of soundproofing between floors, combined with significant outside noise, made it extremely difficult to sleep—and the ongoing lack of sleep was a killer.

For a similar price, I have found the Pullman and Hilton offer a much quieter and more comfortable stay, even if their rooms are smaller.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
C
Carolyn • solo_traveller • au
7
Expensive
Pros:

Good location, car parking at a cost though

Cons:

Too expensive for what you get, double the price than last time I stayed..
Air-con was not working properly last time I stayed, still the case, couldn't adjust temperature

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
A
Ashleigh • couple • au
8
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jacqueline • couple • au
10
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee