---
title: "Imagine Marco vs Lily Sands Inn: which hotel is better?"
description: "Imagine Marco or Lily Sands Inn in Melbourne? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/imagine-marco-melbourne-vs-lily-sands-inn-melbourne/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-15
---

# Imagine Marco vs Lily Sands Inn

Both are in Melbourne, 1.2 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Apartment · Southbank
## [Imagine Marco](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/imagine-marco-melbourne/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.4 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 8.1

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1660696/agoda/?lang=en)

Apartment · South Melbourne
## [Lily Sands Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/lily-sands-inn-melbourne/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.6 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 6.4

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1777512/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Too close to call

Each hotel leads in 2 categories. Your priorities decide. 1.2 km apart.

### Choose Imagine Marco if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (8.4 / 7.6)
-   to walk to the sights (1.0 km / 2.2 km)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (95 / 53)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 190 / 12)

### Choose Lily Sands Inn if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 12 / 190)

### Why is Imagine Marco better than Lily Sands Inn?

1.  Higher guest rating (8.4 vs 7.6) (+0.8)
2.  1.2 km closer to the city centre (−1.2 km)
3.  More guest reviews (2,130 vs 164), so the rating is more reliable (×13)
4.  42 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+42)
5.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 89 vs 69) (+20)
6.  17 more sights within 1 km (+17)
7.  A larger hotel with more facilities (190 vs 12 rooms) (×15.8)

### Why is Lily Sands Inn better than Imagine Marco?

1.  A smaller, more intimate hotel (12 vs 190 rooms) (−178)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Imagine Marco | Lily Sands Inn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.4  (+0.8) | 7.6 |
| Location | 8.1  (+1.7) | 6.4 |
| Facilities | 5.0 | – |
| Spa & wellness | 3.0 | – |
| Beach access | 1.1 | 4.1  (+3.0) |
| Public transport | 6.5 | 7.1  (+0.6) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.4  (+0.7) | 7.7 |
| Guest rating | 8.4  (+0.8) | 7.6 |
| Number of reviews | 2,130  (+1,966) | 164 |
| Google rating | – | 3.8/5 |
| Google reviews | – | 183 |
| Rank in Melbourne | bottom 37%  (+28%) | bottom 9% |
| Location |
| Location score | 8.1  (+1.7) | 6.4 |
| Distance to the centre | 1.0 km  (−1.2 km) | 2.2 km |
| To the beach | 2.7 km | 1.8 km  (−880 m) |
| To public transport | 800 m | 680 m  (−110 m) |
| To the airport | 21 km  (−1.1 km) | 22 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 95  (+42) | 53 |
| To the nearest food shop | 130 m  (−530 m) | 660 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 4  (+3) | 1 |
| Sights within 1 km | 21  (+17) | 4 |
| Rooms & building |
| Rooms | 190 | 12 |
| Floors | 40 | 3 |
| Newest building or renovation | 2016 | 2016 |
| Listed amenities | 14  (+3) | 11 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Concierge | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | – |
| Swimming pool | ✓ | – |
| Gym | ✓ | – |
| Terrace | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balcony | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minibar | ✓ | – |
| In-room safe | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ |
| Parking | – | ✓ |
| Breakfast | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| Distance to the main sights |
| National Gallery of Victoria | 700 m  (−940 m) | 1.6 km |
| St Patrick's Cathedral | 2.2 km  (−970 m) | 3.1 km |
| Melbourne Museum | 2.7 km  (−1.1 km) | 3.8 km |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Beach holidays | – | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | – | ✓ |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

[Lily Sands Inn prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/lily-sands-inn-melbourne/prices/)

## Location

1.2 km apart

Imagine Marco: city centre: 1.0 km, nearest station Victorian Railways Spencer Street: 800 m, Melbourne Airport (MEL): 21 km, beach: 2.7 km, 95 places to eat within 500 m, 21 sights within 1 km.

Lily Sands Inn: city centre: 2.2 km, nearest station Albert Park railway station, Melbourne: 680 m, Melbourne Airport (MEL): 22 km, beach: 1.8 km, 53 places to eat within 500 m, 4 sights within 1 km.

[Top-rated of 30 hotels in Southbank](https://stayversus.com/en/australia/melbourne/area/southbank/)

## Weather in Melbourne

[Melbourne weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/victoria/melbourne/weather)

## Imagine Marco or Lily Sands Inn: common questions

### Which is better, Imagine Marco or Lily Sands Inn?

They are evenly matched. Imagine Marco is stronger in guest rating, location; Lily Sands Inn is stronger in beach access, public transport.

### Which is cheaper, Imagine Marco or Lily Sands Inn?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Imagine Marco is closer: 1.0 km from the centre, against 2.2 km for Lily Sands Inn.

### Which hotel is closer to the beach?

Lily Sands Inn is 1.8 km from the nearest beach; Imagine Marco is 2.7 km.

### How far apart are Imagine Marco and Lily Sands Inn?

The two hotels are 1.2 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Imagine Marco vs WRAP on Southbank](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/imagine-marco-melbourne-vs-wrap-on-southbank-melbourne/)
-   [Imagine Marco vs Experience Bella Hotel Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/experience-bella-hotel-apartments-melbourne-vs-imagine-marco-melbourne/)
-   [Imagine Marco vs Aria Hotel Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/aria-hotel-apartments-melbourne-vs-imagine-marco-melbourne/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/imagine-marco-melbourne-vs-lily-sands-inn-melbourne/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/