Poll : 23 September - 06 October 2009

Analysis

It looks like everyone enjoyed this poll -- we got excellent and prolific feedback, with the only negative being that a lot of people wished they'd had the opportunity to vote for more than one option. We appreciate your frustration, but sometimes it's good for us to gauge how many people took part, which it much more difficult with multiple voting allowed, plus, we know all about being indecisive and sometimes it's a good exercise having to pick just one thing!

The results were interesting, with extensions to the Monorail coming out the clear winner. For those who wanted a new attraction, it looks like your wish came true this week already with the advent of the new Cloud Nine helium balloon at the south end of the Strip. Predictably, many people mourned the loss of good blackjack games and video poker schedules; here are some other of your "other" votes, plus feedback about why you picked what you did:

• "While I realize that a total smoking ban will not happen in my lifetime, it would be great if a gaming area could be set aside for non-smokers in the newer and larger casinos. They have several non-smoking floors in the hotel and logic would tell you that the people staying in these rooms would gravitate towards a non-smoking area in the casino." [Ed: We just updated our listings for non-smoking casino areas, which you might like to check out. And, with its quest for LEED certification, it looks as though those casinos in CityCenter will be significantly more non-smoker-friendly than is the norm these days.]
• "From what I understand, there is a smoking ban whereever food is served. I enjoy a cigarette with a cup of coffee after my meal and would like to see more consideration for those of us who choose to smoke." [Ed: Many bars that serve food still allow smoking, sometimes in the same area and sometimes in a separate room; plus, many restaurants with outdoor seating will permit smoking.
• "The MagLev project is far superior to the Desert Express. It will actually serve the downtown LA area rather than only the eastern CA foothills. In this poll, count me 'Other.'"
• "The completion of the widening of the I15 from Barstow to Vegas."
• "Would like to see the completion of the freeway from Phoenix to Las Vegas. I-11!!"
• "Wow! I wanted to vote for at least six of the choices, but settled on the Monorail extension. I'm getting to old to walk as far as I used to, traffic is awful, and cabs are expensive." [Ed: P.S. And thanks for your note lol ;)]
• "My husband and I now travel to Vegas by 5th wheel. What I would like to see is a large RV park built just outside the city, maybe in the north west area, with reasonable rates, like $20/day, $110/week, $300/month. I know we'd stay longer if we could."
• "I really like the idea of the new entertainment area, but I have mixed feelings on what might be lost. I own at the HGVC Flamingo which is located at the back of the Flamingo grounds, and use the parking garage behind O'sheas while in town, which is accessed from the side road that would hold the venues. I also like using the road to access the strip, it probably saves 5 minutes versus having to go South to Flamingo and then turn right onto LV Blvd. The scariest thing is not knowing how they will redo the loading docks for the Flamingo, and where the ferris wheel would be. I fear that they would be very close to our building, thereby diminishing the view and breaking the silence that we get being one block off the strip (not to mention the stench that emanates from the loading docks being closer to us). I can think of quite a few taxi drivers that won't be happy, as well. The road is well travelled. Overall, I think the prospect of more choices to eat and drink and maybe watch some entertainment, without having to walk through a casino to get to it, is a good thing for Vegas, I just hope it is designed well in consideration for the current surroundings."
• "Were your biases showing? 'Even fewer kids' was an option, but 'more family-friendly activities and attractions' was not." [Ed: Perhaps a subconscious bias was showing, in that we've never felt that Las Vegas was much fun for kids, but we figure the inclusion of the water park and new attraction options pretty much covered what you were looking for.]
• "The completion of the new Boyd Strip casino that's only partially up. Really wish they'd never closed and imploded the Stardust." [Ed: If you've been keeping up with Today's News, you'll know there's no good news on that front."
• "One thing I would like to see return are some of the old time food prices. I realize that everything in this world has gotten expensive. I thank LVA profusely for your coupon book and the restaurant/ buffet/ food coupons - they are lifesavers!! But now when we budget for Vegas , we have to budget more for food than we used to and you know where that money comes from... our gambling budget! And yes, there are still great deals out there (just read LVA's Top Ten) - but nothing like there used to be. And They are sometimes too far off our beaten bath to be economical. Taking a taxi or riding a bus for an hour and a half for a bargain meal - well it ain't no bargain!!"
  "File this under 'it ain't gonna happen', but nonetheless.... How about a return to the 'good ol' days' when comps where handed out on a regular basis. Heck, if I dropped $500-$600 in a session, I'd be given a ticket for AT LEAST a nice dinner somewhere. I've been 'stiffed' recently for as much as $1,000 wagered (either sports betting or table games)."
• "Stop the discrimination aginst the solo traveler."
• "I voted for 'A move away from the nightclub-centric scene'... I go on vacation to relax, not to to be challenged to a fight when someone bumps into me or have some meathead make a pass at my wife."