Obviously, you do think a little as you gave me half an answer.

The hotel we stay at is completely irrelevant as my question relates to staying inside the walls or just outside the walls. Pretty simple question, actually, but maybe a little to complex for you to answer.

Thanks for trying, though. Didn't want to make you work to hard.

Tsk, tsk. Doing yourself no favors Ms OP.

Ditto MmePerdu. I'm out.

Neckervd was acutally pretty helpful, with advice which you may not have thought about. That happens more than you might think. I ask a question and the advice comes back not an exact answer to what I asked, but with a brand new idea which works better than my original plan. So, please be appreciative for any responses which people take time to give. Your response was condescending and a bit rude, so an apology is in order.

Now, to answer your precise question to the best of my ability. I have been to Rhodes twice. Sometimes it is very romantic to stay inside the walls of a place, and for some other cities, I would say stay inside the walls, but I do not think it matters in Rhodes. The immediate old town area is small and easily walkable. I would go with the hotel with a pool, so as you said, you could relax for an hour or so in the evening. Then I would walk back into the old town for dinner in some romantic looking restaurant. I think you would have the best of both. Just outside the gates, even in September and October, I waded around in the sea. It was warm in September, a little cold in October, but clear and beautiful, so in the heat of Summer, I think you would really enjoy the pool. Now, once you are there, you may think my advice was not good, but based on my experience, that is what I would do.

Personally, I did not go to Lindos, but friends who rented a car and toured more, thought a day trip was fine.

On my opinion, OP is looking for answers that can not be given. What is a must or not, what is romantic or not... What's romantic is a personal call. What kind of expectations one has and specifics could influence ones decision too. For example if I envision a boutique hotel on a quiet lane within the city walls but I end up on a hovel on the busier street inside the walls, this doesn't mean that been within the walls will necessarily make it. If I find a hovel with a nice quiet terrace and enjoy spending time there drink on hand and enjoying the moment, this could make it for me but not for someone else. (Anyhow, I'm not sure there are so many accommodation options within the walls). Ditto for outside the walls. Not all hotels offered there feature same things, and a couple of streets apart might have a difference ambiance. Too many bias to factor in.

Then maybe OP doesn't find my reply helpful either.

The problem is that it seems that there are a few members here who think they can start off their answers with some snarky comment, belittling travellers who need information and advice.

If someone asks if Santorini is a must see, you all know exactly what that means but some of you think you are just too good for the rest of us and need to add some weird garbage to your answer. And if someone asks about staying within the walls or outside the walls of Rhodes Old Town, that is also a very simple question, yet again, some of you must add some crap instead of just answering the question straight.

And kja, please stay out. You may have valuable advice to offer but you are not Mama Fodors.

Sassafrass, I do appreciate your answer, I really do. Makes perfect sense. I will stay just outside the gates. I am thinking about the Rodos Park Suites and Spa. Has anyone ever stayed there?

Mariha2912, I do find your reply helpful because you explain your answer without some snarky comment. I appreciate that as well.