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
M
Mary K • couple • au
10
2026-10-31 • via Nuitee
J
Jaleighra • couple • au
9
2026-10-31 • via Nuitee
N
Nunn • couple • au
9
great. Ill be back
Pros:

good sized room with all conveniences

Cons:

nothing

2026-10-31 • via Nuitee
W
Wendy • couple • au
8
2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
J
Jozsef • extended_group • il
9
For one night it was very nice after two weeks in camper van.
Pros:

The location, clean room we didn’t use but there was a swimming pool and gym too.

Cons:

We used the laundry and there was only one washer and one dryer, as we saw the guest are used them plenty.
Would be nice to have from each additional one in order to avoid long waiting times.

2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
T
Tamara • couple • au
8
Great stay!
Pros:

Clean and great location. Comfortable bed.

2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
L
Leeah • couple • au
10
Very pleased
Pros:

Good very com

Cons:

Nothing

2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
R
Rebecca Mracek • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
S
Sambuddha • couple • in
9
Would stay again
Pros:

Very spacious
Very well located
Friendly staff

2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-10-27 • via Nuitee
J
Jordy • couple • au
6
Disappointing
Pros:

Location is perfect, room was clean, lots of noise coming from the event floor and we stayed in level 7 and could still hear them partying. Didn’t get much sleep.

Cons:

Room was tiny and balcony was strangely small. One staff member at front desk were abrupt and had an attitude when we were checking in and really rushed us while making strange looks at us the entire time.

2026-10-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jill • solo_traveller • au
9
Cons:

Shame the restaurant is only open half the week

2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
S
Stacey • family_with_children • au
7
Enjoyable
Pros:

Staff were friendly, restaurant and bar were outstanding. Meals were high quality.

Cons:

When paying for a balcony and unable to sit on the balcony. The balcony size is so small standing room only.

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

All staff were very friendly and helpful throughout my stay. The breakfast buffet, open from 0630 was excellent with a wide choice. Will stay again if in the area.

2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
J
Juanita • family_with_children • au
8
Great location. Friendly staff
Pros:

The bar area and pool area was fantastic. The staff were very friendly.

Cons:

The air conditioning seemed to turn off at night so the room got a bit hot.

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
K
Kerry • extended_group • au
4
2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
T
Theresa • family_with_children • au
9
Pros:

Location. Comfortable.

Cons:

Drunken first nations at entrance to hotel.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
A
Altana • couple • au
10
2026-10-15 • 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
G
Georgia • extended_group • au
10
2026-10-14 • via Nuitee