Imagine Marco vs Lily Sands Inn
Both are in Melbourne, 1.2 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.
ApartmentSouthbank
Imagine Marco
- Guest rating
- 8.4 Very good
- Location score
- 8.1
- Score by category
- 2 of 4
ApartmentSouth Melbourne
Lily Sands Inn
- Guest rating
- 7.6 Good
- Location score
- 6.4
- Score by category
- 2 of 4
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?
- 1Higher guest rating (8.4 vs 7.6)+0.8
- 21.2 km closer to the city centre−1.2 km
- 3More guest reviews (2,130 vs 164), so the rating is more reliable×13
- 442 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m+42
- 5More walkable surroundings (walk grade 89 vs 69)+20
- 617 more sights within 1 km+17
- 7A larger hotel with more facilities (190 vs 12 rooms)×15.8
Why is Lily Sands Inn better than Imagine Marco?
- 1A 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 vs Lily Sands Inn: which hotel is better? | 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 | ✓ | – |
Price for your dates
Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.
Live prices around both hotels
Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.
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
Weather in Melbourne
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.
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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