Well, I received my card in the mail today advising me it was time to renew my LVA subscription. I used to just automatically renew it because the coupon book more than offset the cost of the subscription.
But last year they didn't have coupons for the Pullman Grill or the Second Street Grill or any other good downtown restaurant.
So now the decision about renewing has to consider the information contained in the publication. Is it really worth $50 since most of the time the info they provide is outdated. We get more from this bb than they provide and with all the intenet sites with Las Vegas info it is hard to justify the subscription.
Has anyone heard what restaurants will be included in the 2000 coupon book? If they are going to continue to put in restaurants from out of the way places, or restaurants I don't want to go to, it doesn't make sense to renew the subscription.

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

John, I got my blue card from them last month. I have not renewed yet. The biggest value I see in the LVA is to save them all, put them in a binder, and in the course of many years, you have an interesting history database to thumb through. I'm torn, because I almost have enough past issues to have a conversation piece, but they have so little current value...unless you like reading Huntington Press advertisements.

John, Joe -

It's tough for a monthly publication to compete with all the Las Vegas info found here and elsewhere on the Internet. It just doesn't seem like many scoops or "new and hot" news items are in the LVA by the time it reaches it's subscribers.

That being the case, it should give the LVA incentive to try harder than they ever have. But if you look at other Las Vegas publications you'll see the names of several LVA contributors. Nothing wrong with holding several jobs, but it really does seem like the quality of the Advisor content has suffered. Maybe the LVA contributor's best work can be found elsewhere.

Recently, I was talking to a friend of mine who is working on putting together a local freebie magazine. We were discussing what kind of content he could put in the magazine to get people to pick it up and look at it. But his priority is to sell ads and push products. Yet, you gotta throw a few stories and pictures in there, so it's not so obvious.

As a long time LVA subscriber, it didn't always seem to be this way, but now (as JMT said, and) IMO, the LVA is not much more than a monthly ad for the Huntington Press and its books, with a little "taste" of Las Vegas included so it's readers will look at it.

Also, I think there are quite a few LVA subscribers who have Internet access. Las Vegas and the Internet have pretty much been ignored by the Las Vegas Advisor. It sure seems newsworthy to me, but I may be biased. Sites such as TalkVegas.com, GamingToday and many other LV sites on the Web would be of great interest to their readers. Probably enough to fill a two page article and then some EVERY MONTH.

Maybe include hotel websites next to the phone numbers in the center spread ?

Haven't got my final issue yet this month, probably due to some kind of mailing mishap. But I think it's time to move on.

If we miss anything that will knock our socks off, someone will probably let us know. <g>

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Mark
Moderator - Entertainment
mark@talkvegas.com

[This message has been edited by Mark (edited December 04, 1999).]

Mark and all,
I won't be renewing my subscription, but it's not due for quite a few months yet. I don't remember if I used the last subscription for a 99 coupon book or a 2000 coupon book when I renewed the last time. If I get the 2000 book and anything of value (real value) is inside, I'll be sure to post the news.


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

December's issue showed up in my mail on the 4th. Normally I would be upset that it was late, but I can't complain since I cancelled it in July. It holds no interest for me anymore now that we get all our info so fast and right up to date from Talk Vegas and other Internet sources, although I'm not including Paskevich in this group <g>.

If those December issues are late, the LVA probably used an old mailing list like they did for the September issue. I got that one in the mail too.

Joe, Darn, I wish I would have thought of binding all the issues.
I just threw out about 3 years worth since they were just collecting dust in the corner and I never looked at them once I read them.
It would have been a good idea to bind them and keep them as you suggest. Too late now.
Like you, my blue renewal card is sitting hear and I am trying to justify the renewal. I think I will wait until the new coupon book comes out. If some quality restaurants are in it then I will renew it. But if not, I think the LVA is history.
It was either Lee or Mark who mentioned some good Las Vegas magazines that they subscribe to. I'll look into those.

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

Lee, I want you to know that I now have my monitor decorated for Christmas with the lights you sent me. <G>
Thanks!

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

I didn't renew my subscription in September because I've been finding the content less useful along with the coupons. I also have the ability to run over to the gamblers bookstore to pick up single copies which I have been doing. I'll renew if the '00 coupons are worth it.

My subscription doesn't run out until Sept...I'll post the list of coupons when it appears. I doubt very much if I'll renew unless there is significant improvement over last years offerings.

Daisy, thanks for offering to post the coupons. I also won't renew unless the coupons get a whole lot better.

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

I agree with all the criticisms of the LVA. It has gone downhill. None the less, I renewed in November. I always get to use a couple of coupons without going out of my way. I also like having some hard copy Vegas reading around. It used to be an incredible value and source of information. Now I consider it a reasonable value.

Wow! Sounds like I'm not the only one to not renew. My subscription expired with the October issue, however, they did send me a "complimentary" December issue. The coupons, like all coupons, are only a good deal if you can use them. It seems that I never made the effort to use them.

Gregg and all,

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has grown tired of the coupons. It is an effort to use them, to remember what you got, and sometimes a hassel to even use them.
I'm also glad to hear that other people feel the same way about the value too. I just don't see how a monthly news letter can keep pace with todays rapidly changing world. For the casual LV visitor, (one time per year) I guess it works out ok, but for frequent fliers, it is lacking on content. IMHO


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Lee, So you're tired of coupons? Too much work? But you'll still take a bus from downtown to VV for a hot dog, beer, and a spin! Very Interesting! <G>
- Mike

The only coupons that really interested me were the dining coupons for the Pullman Grille and the Second Street Grill. Those 2 alone made the subscription a good deal. But when they lost the good dining coupons from the downtown restaurants, I can't see a reason to subscribe anymore. I'll wait to see what coupons are in the new book before I subscribe.
BTW, anyone get the new Entertainment book for Las Vegas yet? If so, what does the fine dining section look like this year?

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John
Moderator Dining Forum
john@talkvegas.com

John: I brought up Lee's note in the Dining Forum "Entertainment 2000 Fine dining choices/Casino's and posted the rest of the list.

Not exactly a banner list of dining choices this year.

Mike,
The VV thing is sort of a tradition with us. It's not so much a free hotdog or the airfare spin (although I have won the thing twice) but it has become part of "my vegas".

With coupons you have to remember what you have and it has to be with you. Coupons for the most part have become a hassel for me. Then if I find I do have a coupon for a free something or 1/2 off, and I didn't use it and paid full fare, it P*sses me off. <s>

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com