The Benson Hotel

Was able to find a room very last minute for which I was grateful. The staff is lovely, the cleanliness is amazing, gorgeous restaurant area & menu, and great amenities. First time in Cairns but will definitely be back at Benson.

The receptionist wasn’t particularly friendly, but check in was smooth and efficient. The room was clean and spacious enough for a comfortable stay. We booked a standard room but were given one with two queen beds for the two of us, which was very comfortable. Both the beds and pillows had just the right level of firmness, and we had no issues sleeping. The bathroom was also spacious and comfortable to use. It was nice that the TV allowed access to streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify. However, the connection often dropped, possibly due to unstable Wi-Fi, which was a bit frustrating at times. One small downside was the amenities. The shampoo, conditioner, and body wash came in small tubes, and for two people staying two nights, it felt a bit lacking. If you have your own travel size toiletries, I’d recommend bringing them just in case. The hotel is about a 10–15 minute walk from the ocean, so while it’s not right on the water, the location wasn’t inconvenient at all. Overall, I’d say it was worth the price.

Disappointing Experience at a 4-Star Hotel – Facilities Below Expectations I stayed at The Benson Hotel in Cairns for three nights for AUD 1,245, but the experience did not meet 4-star standards: Public Restrooms: When I asked reception about restrooms, I was told there were none except in guest rooms because the breakfast area on Level 3 was closed. In reality, there was a single restroom on Level 4 near the pool, but accessing it required taking the lift (using a room key) and then opening a gate to the pool area with the room key again. This setup is extremely impractical for guests waiting for a taxi after check-out without a key, or for newly arrived guests who have not yet received one. Hot Water: On 3 evenings, the shower water was only lukewarm, just barely above body temperature, making it uncomfortable to shower. When I raised this with the manager, he suggested that perhaps the hot water system had been depleted or that I might have perceived the temperature as colder at night. Such explanations were unconvincing and not acceptable, as consistent hot water at all times is a basic expectation in any 4-star hotel. Breakfast: The breakfast was very basic, with little attention paid to refilling empty dishes. Although bacon was politely requested, it took over 10 minutes to arrive, by which time the scrambled eggs on the plate had gone cold. Early Check-out & Key Deactivation: The check-out time was 10:00 AM, which is early for a 4-star hotel. Even worse, the room key stopped working before 10:00 AM, meaning that guests trying to return to their room shortly before official check-out could find themselves locked out – an unacceptable inconvenience. Overall, the hotel’s facilities and service did not justify the high price and fell short of 4-star expectations.