The Benson Hotel

The rooms are decent, but there are several areas that could be improved. The showers and toilets are quite small, and the beds are not particularly comfortable. The TVs feel outdated, and the elevators were frequently a nuisance during my stay. Considering the price of the accommodation, I expected a higher standard overall. Additionally, parking costs $25, which adds to the expense. The hotel is adequate for a short stay, but there is definitely room for improvement, especially given the rates being charged.

Overall, a pleasant stay at The Benson Hotel. The room was very beautiful and well-equipped with a microwave and cutlery. The veg, light breakfast was delicious. The swimming pool is good—swimming goggles are recommended as the water is salty. On the second day, the room was not made. When we informed reception, they said it would be cleaned the next morning, but we checked out before that.

This is the first negative review I have ever left. I rarely complain, and I always try to give businesses the benefit of the doubt. However, after spending over $1,200 on a three-night stay, I feel obligated to warn others about mine and my partners' experience. From the moment we arrived, the customer service was disappointing. Reception staff were abrupt, dismissive, and made us feel like an inconvenience rather than paying guests. Instead of welcoming us, we were rushed through check-in and repeatedly told to "take it or leave it" regarding additional charges. The biggest issue was the air conditioning. It did not work for our entire stay. The room was unbearably hot, locked at 23°C, and was significantly warmer than both the hallways and the outside temperature. We barely slept for three nights because we woke repeatedly drenched in sweat. The only solution offered was a small portable fan or to leave the balcony doors open... which disabled the air conditioning and exposed us to loud nightclub noise until the early hours of the morning. What makes this even worse is that several staff members apologised repeatedly after the second time asking if their was anything that could be done to fix it... staff admitted ours was the only room with this issue, and even told us it could have been repaired on the very first night. Despite this, nothing was ever done. We were continually assured someone would fix it or contact us with a refund, yet no repairs or follow ups ever happened. We felt completely misled. I specifically booked this hotel because I needed to stay close by for medical reasons. Rest and comfort were incredibly important, but instead the extreme heat and lack of sleep significantly worsened my health during our stay. The room itself was also nowhere near the standard advertised. There was visible mold and rust throughout the bathroom, the bathroom and toilet were not properly cleaned before our arrival, amenities were minimal, and the room looked nothing like the photos online. On top of paying over $1,200 for accommodation, we were also charged extra for parking and laundry facilities which was never stated online. The most disappointing part of this experience was how we were treated during this stay. Staff assured us that because no one had been able to resolve the issues, we would receive a refund and that management would contact us. That never happened and they were nothing, but rude to my partner and I. Especially Rachel. When my partner returned to reception to ask for an update on our last day, he was met with rudeness once again, told to "stop asking and coming down here", and instructed us leave because there was "nothing they could do." Since then, management has ignored multiple attempts to contact them. The room was unacceptable, but the complete lack of accountability and the way we were treated was even worse. Paying guests deserve far better than this. If you're considering staying here, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. There are plenty of hotels that value their guests, maintain their rooms properly, and stand behind their service when something goes wrong. This hotel does none of those things. I have had better experiences at a backpackers or cottage. I genuinely wish I had read a review like this before booking. It would have saved us over $1,200, three sleepless nights, unnecessary stress, and one of the worst hotel experiences we have ever had.

The first time I came to Cairns, I accidentally chose this hotel. Located in the center of Cairns, the location is very good. As it has just been renovated, the overall environment is still very clean and tidy, and the equipment is very new. I haven't received any feedback yet. Let me give you a review to encourage you. It's a five-star rating, it's really great