Before going on trip to the Great Barrier Reef my boyfriend and I needed to stay a night in Airlie Beach. We didn't like the supposedly best hotel in the town since it was located on a main street.
The Crocodile Club was just sad. The rooms were small, old and very dirty. We were on the ground floor and woke up with minature cucarachas in bed. The pool was just outside our room. There were a bunch of guy looking like ZZ top sitting out there that seemed like they were drunk and trouble.
The breakfast was terrible. No choice at all and not very clean.
Maybe try the Airlie Beach Hotel if you need a room in Airlie Beach.