Anyone have concerns about staying in a non gated community?

[4forMe]

I am trying to keep our upcoming spring break trip as low budget as possible. Initially, we were going to stay in Windsor Hills, but I am reconsidering due to the expense.

The other resorts DH and I are considering are Emerald Island, Rolling Hills and Indian Creek. The prices I've found on vrbo tend to be lower for Rolling Hills and Indian Creek; however, both of these communities are not gated.

Has anyone stayed at those resorts recently? They are both very close to Windsor Hills. I just feel, though, that I would have a greater sense of security/comfort at the gated community (Emerald Island) vs. non gated.

How important is it to you to stay in a gated community?

If you've stayed in a non-gated community recently or have done both, please share your experience.

Thanks!

 

[Dax]

My inlaws used to rent a house in Indian Creek. The house was right up along the road where the big fence is, and there never was a problem. They stayed in the unit for a full month this past Feb, and never had an issue.

Go for it...The most "rif-raf" you may encounter is the occasional person driving through looking around, as we did at Indian Creek, but it was nothing that bothered them or us.

 

[Brian Noble]

Wouldn't bother me at all.

 

[At World's End]

We are staying at Crestwynd Bay for our upcoming trip. It's a gated community right next to Windsor Hills, but much less expensive. It doesn't have as many amenities as Windsor Hills, but we are renting a 3br/3ba townhouse (no private pool) for about $30 less per night than my best quote from Windosr Hills.

In January we rented at Legacy Park, which is not gated, and we had no problems. The house did have an alarm system, but I think that might be normal for a rental.

 

[JANNYANS]

No problem here staying in a non gated community in fact I wonder how the pizza guy gets in a gated one if it isn't manned .I like communities that have a mixture of rentals and residents as there are always people around.As long as you employ the same routines as you do at home -lock doors, shut windows that sort of thing you will be fine .

 

[Chelley00]

Try Sunset Lakes. It's right next to Windsor Hills. It's gated. The houses are a older than WH, but still nice and a lot of the houses has lake views.

 

[4forMe]

Thanks for the replies. It helps to gain some perspective from people that have stayed in non-gated communities.

Try Sunset Lakes. It's right next to Windsor Hills. It's gated. The houses are a older than WH, but still nice and a lot of the houses has lake views.

Sunset Lakes was at the top of my list! Unfortunately, all the homes I was interested in are already booked. Maybe we will be able to stay here another time. It's looks very beautiful and peaceful.

 

[formill]

We stayed in Ridgewood Lakes community once- gated-security people at gates at all times- the owner of the villa we rented failed to tell us how to get in the gates......in the end it did not matter- the gates were a joke......we drove up they waved us in........every time........then my sister showed up to stay with us the one week.......same thing they waved them in. We were both in rental cars so there is no way they could know we were the right people renting a villa. So sometimes maybe the gates give a sense of security that is not really there. We've stayed at Indian Creek- the lack of gates did not bother us. We keep doors locked at all times......especially front when we are out in the back. I did wish the door at the front had an extra lock so at night you did not have to worry who had a key to that door- you could double lock so it would not matter- the patio doors always had bars.

 

[isla bonita]

The first house we rented was not gated and we had no problems at all. It was in Indian Ridge Oak. A great area near the parks, I4 and restaurants.

 

[Stargazer2]

We are on a non-gated community but never feel insecure. There is CCTV at the entrance and the house is alarmed so always feel safe.

 

[TrustedTraveler]

We've stayed in both Rolling Hills and Indian Creek and and never worried one bit about being in a non-gated community. The are nice residential neighborhoods and we felt completely safe there.