Question of the Day - 01 August 2013

For those of you who missed the results of this poll, which generated thousands of votes, you can find them here in the Poll Archives. What follows is some of the insightful feedback you provided, which is always of instructional value, both in terms of why you do or don't read our monthly newsletter and, if you do, which features you find most useful/entertaining and what new ideas you'd like to see considered. Here are some examples of what you said:

• "The LVA newsletter's success is because it is a versatile tool for your needs. I find one feature is not necessarily more beneficial than another: It’s the variety of the features that's important. The LVA newsletter is used by me as a tool for a successful planned trip. For example, I will be using two different hotels on my next visit and the time spent between check-out to check-in is planned to be spent at Wet ‘n’ Wild, thanks to the article in LVA. Use the LVA newsletter, that’s what it's published for!"
• "I actually do like the newsletter, but I stopped subscribing. I used to go annually to a conference in Las Vegas, and various times during the year, because of free rooms from Caesars. I stopped going to the conference a few years ago and the promotions from Caesars have since stopped. I hope to start coming back to Las Vegas again and will subscribe to the newsletter once again when I do."
• "The newsletter covers the same things each month. I think it needs to be fresher and be honest about the problems with today's hotel-casinos. For example, the room rates aren't really that good. The quality of rooms at the low prices are horrible, for the most part. Answer our questions about why companies won't reply to questions or problems with the hotel or casino. Have features on comps and how to get them. Discuss race and sports books and help the players out. Have features on comps and how to get them. Discuss race and sports books and help the players out. Have different information and not the same things each month."
• "I answered that I used to read the newsletter, but I just don't do it now because I haven't visited Las Vegas in about 3 years. I will definitely read it again before my next visit!"
• "I like the monthly newsletter but have found that the extra cost for shipping to Canada makes it a questionable value for me, since I only visit Vegas once or twice per year and have not taken advantage of many of the offerings. The truth is, I get enough info from the daily posts etc. for my needs. Thanks for an excellent website and please don't start charging me for that...LOL" [Ed: Thanks. But, you know, we all need to make living LOL. You do know that you can purchase a discounted membership, with online-only access to the newsletter? That cuts out that pesky shipping charge, and you can pick up your coupon book whenever you visit. Jus' sayin'...]
• "I was a member when you also had the Club WPT poker affiliation. I ceased being a member when you spun that off, although I did like your newsletter." [Ed: Thanks, and you may soon find a poker-related reason to return. Check out the current offer we have in conjunction with UltimatePoker.com and All In magazine ... perhaps that will entice you back ;-)]
• "I would love to be able to read it from front cover to back cover but unfortunately we can’t afford such luxuries. We live in the State of Michigan where recovery from the recession has taken it has a toll on us financially as well as many others who are still underemployed such as us or unemployed."
• "Because I am now a local!" [Ed: We can't tell from your email if you voted that you do or don't read the newsletter; we hope the former, since locals are best-placed to enjoy all the deals and opportunities we list each month, whereas the poor traveler can only hope to fit in a handful.]
• "I was a subscriber at one time but let my subscription lapse. I don't mean to sound haughty but I am not always looking for the cheapest food, most frugal approach, least expensive room etc. The newsletter seemed geared for folks who come to Vegas on a budget so severe that dining at one of the top rated restaurants is out of the question. That's not me anymore so the newsletter lost its appeal. [Ed: No offense taken, but we'd encourage you to revisit, as we think you may find it's evolved somewhat since the focus was primarily on bargains at the lower-end of the budgetary scale. The August issue, for example, carries reviews of Cosmo's D.O.C.G. Enoteca, where entrees like pici with braised duck sauce and black truffles, or a prosciutto pizza with asparagus, is not exactly Olive Garden fare -- nor Buca di Beppo prices. We revisit Aria's American Fish, where the food is awesome but you can expect to pay $100/person -- before any booze. At Five50, the new gourmet-pizza joint also at Aria, you can pay up to $30 for a pizza, but then these aren't your average pepperoni and Hawaiian-style pies we're talking about. While our ever-eclectic "Local Corner" spotlight can profile anything from a hot dog hole-in-the-wall to an uber-authentic Mexican restaurant in the ghetto, this month happens to feature Henderson's renowned Todd's Unique, a perennial "Essential 50" pick in the Eating Las Vegas restaurant guide. Oh, and while our latest happy hour picks do indeed include 50-cent beers, we also wax lyrical about the Comme Ça happy hour, even though at half price the burgers are still $9 and the grand plateau cold-seafood tower will set you back $87.50 (regular price is $175, although it does feed four. Bottom line: While we're still absolutely all about value and bargains, these can be relative, and don't necessarily mean cheap or low-caliber.]