The Benson Hotel

We live more than two hours from Cairns, so this is our second time staying overnight here before an early flight. The room was great again, spacious and spotless, with a lovely view of the city, hills and river. After dropping my partner at the airport the next morning, I tried the breakfast, which was expensive but good. The filter coffee, though, might be the worst in Queensland. I asked for a machine coffee, as did other people, but it cost extra. We'll stay again, but I'll have breakfast at my favourite cafes for the good coffee.

The second day, our room wasn't made up. Reception said it would be cleaned the next morning, but we checked out before then. Apart from that, we had a pleasant stay at The Benson Hotel. The room was beautiful and well equipped, with cutlery and a microwave, and we enjoyed the light vegetarian breakfast. The pool was good too, though the water is salty, so swimming goggles are a good idea.

The premises are older but kept in good condition, and the rooms had the essentials and were well maintained. It's conveniently located for both the city and convention centre, with on-site dining and a bar at competitive prices. On the evening we visited, drinks at happy hour came with a small taster platter, which was nice.

The Caesar salad was the best I've ever had, and the poolside cocktails were delicious. Our beautifully designed room was spotless and very comfortable. The whole place made us feel welcome and relaxed. I'd happily return.