ACG or LVA?

For our upcoming trip which do you think would benefit us the most? Will do some of the buffets and maybe a show or two. Was wondering if either of these worth it or not?

 

Ultimately it depends on where you plan to be during your trip. If you don't plan to leave the strip proper, then I probably wouldn't bother. If you plan to be downtown or hit some of the off-strip places then both of these are decent options.

Both books offer positive value in gambling coupons alone (once again assuming you'll actually be at the right places). The LVA is much more valuable than the ACG, but it also costs significantly more. If you're going to spend the $37-$53 (depending on options) for the LVA then you might as well spend the ~$13 for the ACG. There are a number of places (Ellis Island for example) where you can double dip and use both books. And even for the places that don't allow two coupons in the same day (El Cortez), you can simply have one of you use the LVA and the other the ACG.

 

I buy both. There are some strip coupons in both, just not for places that get a whole lot of love from message boards. By my rough calculations, if I use 2 meal coupons I've paid for both books.

 

Silly as it sounds, I ultimately go with LVA primarily because the book is small enough to fit nicely in my back pocket. Doesn't matter how good the coupons are if you don't have the right one with you...

 

I personally am not a fan of the LVA book. It used to be so much better. I go to Vegas 3-4 times a year and would have to force myself to find coupons I wanted to use in the LVA to make it worth the cost.

The ACG can be purchased for like $11 bucks on Amazon and with just a coupon or two, I have recouped the cost plus some.

The list of coupons in each book is below, I pasted the links:

ACG:
http://forum.americancasinoguide.com/american-casino-guide/7976-2013-american-casino-guide-coupon-list.html

LVA:
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whyjoin-mrbdetails.cfm

Hope that helps you decide.

Stephanie

 

I take apart the ACG and keep the card with me. That way I only have the ACG coupons I'm likely to use. It's a bulky book if you leave it intact.

 

Thanks for the help this makes it easier, might just get the ACG since is less expensive and would recoup my money easier....

 

I can't lobby for the LVA, as I've never made the commitment to it. I've never seen the book, so I don't know how easily it fits in a pocket, but I do know that I don't carry a purse, so carrying the book with me to redeem the coupons seems like a pain in the arse. I have no problem keeping a dozen or more ACG match play coupons in my wallets (I carry two wallets in Vegas) and adding a restaurant coupon or two to the wallets if I know I'm going to use it on a specific day.

I know I will save the low cost of the ACG book with a food coupon, and there's always one that is of benefit to me. (I'll be using two during my upcoming trip.) I also figure that if I have a few match plays to use, one of them is going to hit, if not more, and that will help reimburse the cost of the book.

I remember years ago when I was selling our local version of the "Entertainment" book – or as we called our local version back in the day, "Happenings" – people would act as if the book wasn't of value because they didn't go to many places that are featured in the book. Nowadays you have to want to pay the full price of $35 in order to get the book, as it's so easy to get it for less than that, and it takes so little to save that money at area restaurants. I buy the book knowing I'll save what I paid for it with 2 or 3 uses, and I'll have 10-12 months of potential bonus savings from it should I choose to exploit them.

Somehow people acted as if the book wasn't worth purchasing if they didn't save hundreds of dollars because of it. Nonsense!

You can get ACG darn cheap if you plan ahead and have a need to buy anything else through Amazon. (free shipping on all orders of $25 or more) If you can save real money on one thing you plan to do in Vegas, and find one match play to use as part of your gambling bankroll, the book has been worth the "hassle."

After that you have a book with some interesting tidbits and tips to help occupy those long mornings on the throne, or to help you kill time on the plane. Anything else you get out of it is a bonus. And if you only use 3 coupons and find out your friend is going to Vegas in September, give him or her the book and you've become a swell guy/gal, all for saving $5 or $10 with little effort on your part.

Since you're interested in buffets, look at the LVA list and see if the participating locations are places you're likely to visit. If there's a chance you're going to eat at two of the casinos, and can use two match plays, I'd say there's no harm in getting that book, as long as you don't mind taking it with you wherever you go.

 

If you are into using coupons and like going around to all the different properties, I don't see why both isn't an option.

If you use the coupons and don't just use them because you have to, both are well worth the money. ACG is by far easier to get back the investment at ~$12 on amazon. LVA at $40 kindof requires you to value the gambling coupons. There are others in there that are worthwhile though. Look over the coupons and simply decide which you want to use. If you go to palms regularly the LVA pays for itself just due to the 1 restaurant coupon and then you get everything else free.

 

I think somebody on a budget could do alright in Vegas without coupons, without skipping meals or making grilled cheese with the iron in the room. There are still a lot of specials both advertised and not, especially if you like beef.

I learned about coupons when planning our first trip in 2004. I was reluctant at first. But, I did buy both the LVA and ACG that year. I also got coupons from somebody who used to have a site (billhere) and was shocked when he sent me low quality photocopies of coupons. But, I did some trading with some people on the message board I frequented at the time and they took the photocopies from me saying they were good and they would use them.

Anyhow, within a day in Vegas I realized the whole coupon thing was awesome. I don't trade anymore. There are other coupon books out there but I only buy the ACG and LVA. It doesn't hurt to look over the list of coupons and see how they compare. My focus is on 2/1 meals and booze. I'm not a big matchplay user but I have used a few show coupons. I also like hotel funbooks when you check in. There's usually some good coupons in there. I always look over the in room magazines for coupons as well, a few gems in there too.

I order both the LVA and ACG for my birthday and it's a big deal for me when they arrive. I have a tradition where I run around the house with the coupon book doing Steve Martin in The Jerk-the new coupon books are here! When I'm done, I find somebody on the board who would use and appreciate my unused coupons and send them over. This past trip I did a little contest where the first person who gave me the most shameless flattery won my coupons. I did that on my last day in Vegas and mailed them on the way home.

 

I am one of those nutty coupon users that you do NOT want to get in line behind at the grocery store. LOL (yes, I even have the shelves of stuff, but not a crazy amount like on tv). Imagine my joy when I found TWO coupon books that I could use in Vegas!! WOO HOO!!! But after looking through the lists of coupons I think I'm going to go with just the ACG. The LVA doesn't really have many that I can totally get my money back or even exceed it. We are staying on the strip and only going downtown for 1 night and it seems more of them in the LVA are for downtown.
My fiance is cracking up at me. He loves reaping the benefits from my couponing, but he will go NOWHERE with me if I go to grab my coupon binder. LOL Let's see him try to avoid me with my coupons when we are in Vegas! LOL

 

The value of the books is simply how useful it is to you and that differs for all of us. Lots of good points of view have already been given. My first suggestion is that if this is your first trip, there is just so much to see and do, go explore and have fun, never mind chasing down places to use coupons. I didn't use them my first year, you have a tendency to want to see all the big hotels, shows etc. Use the links supplied and read the coupons. I think they used to be a lot better but it all depends on each individual. I can't use most of the 2 for 1's, and there used to be many more of them, because I usually go solo and most don't allow solo's to get 50% OFF. In addition many places have not made it less convrnient to use coupons by making you redeem coupons for voucheers etc. instead of just presenting it to the hostess or waitress. Since I am not much of a gambler I never used most of the freeplay coupons. There is a difference too if you have a car since many of these places are a bit off the beaten path.

For many years I did buy both books and got my money's worth most of the time. It all depends on you. there are many free magazines in the hotels, pick then up and look for coupons there as well. the magazines are free, and sometimes they pass out coupons in or in front of the hotels. Enjoy your trip; LV is a great place!

 

Thanks great advice! Will have to see probably get just ACG since can use maybe at places near home too and not out that much if don't use many.

 

Jim, I respect you and your opinions. But, I disagree. Yes, a lot of the coupons are for off strip properties where you need a car and a reason to be out there. I think you're talking about a hardcore coupon run. I think that's the extreme end of the Vegas coupon spectrum.

IMHO there are still some good coupons for the strip, downtown and near off strip (Ellis Island, Gold Coast, Rio, Palms). I don't think you need a car or to go out of your way to benefit from the coupons available.

As a first timer, you get wandering the strip, you end up at or by Riviera somehow for example, it only takes a few seconds to thumb through your coupons to see if you have one you could use at or around Riviera.

My first trip I avoided places that got no respect on the message boards. I knew about places like Ellis Island and had the coupons for it. But, I was too chicken to eat there. This past trip we made a point of going to all the low roller places we had coupons for (see my signature line), we somehow survived and actually enjoyed our meals. I'm looking forward to trying some more low roller places next time.

And this point gets made a lot but it bears repeating; you can do Vegas completely "wrong" and still have a good time.