The Benson Hotel

Hotels
8.3 (2044 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 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
K
Kerrie • couple • au
8
Enjoyed our stay, thank you
Pros:

Location
Staff

Cons:

The lifts

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • extended_group • ch
8
2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • couple • au
9
Very comfortable.
Pros:

The Hotel is fantastic, very clean and large rooms.

Cons:

We found the pillows a bit high and too firm.

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
K
Kelli • couple • au
10
2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
D
Danielle • couple • au
8
Pros:

The Benson was clean, great size rooms. Looked to be newly renovated which was great. All in all definitely recommend it to travellers.

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
C
Christine • couple • au
9
Our 10th floor room was great with a nice view of Cairns. We would stay there again.
Pros:

We liked the spaciousness of the room and our view

Cons:

Our evening meal was disappointing. We ordered a pasta dish which arrived cold. It was underwhelming for the price.

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
J
Jess • couple • au
7
2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
K
Kristy • couple • au
10
Brilliant
Pros:

Absolutely everything! Can’t wait to come back and stay - well done.

Cons:

Couldn’t even make something up. Perfect stay 💗

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
W
Wendy • solo_traveller • au
7
Pros:

Spacious and airy room. Lovely bathroom.

Cons:

A bit tired and shabby in hallways

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • family_with_children • ca
7
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • ca
7
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
A
Amanda • solo_traveller • au
7
Pros:

The room was spacious and clean and nicely renovated. The location

Cons:

The noise coming from the rooms beside us, down the hallway and when Gilligan's closes and it all spills out on the street it's very loud and quite disruptive to sleep.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
Z
Zui • family_with_children • au
10
Enjoyed Our Stay.
Pros:

Everything you needed was in the one spot/area or nearby.

Cons:

No toilet brush in the bathroom.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
N
Nimkar • extended_group • au
8
Pros:

all good

Cons:

break fast - should have some more vegetarian options

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
B
Brophy • family_with_children • au
8
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
A
Amber • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
J
John • extended_group • au
7
2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
Z
Zachariah • couple • au
8
2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
B
Benjamin • couple • se
6
2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
A
Amandeep singh • extended_group • au
10
Pros:

excellent

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee