For many years the buffets in Las Vegas with their seemly endless choice of food were seen by the resorts as loss leaders with their low prices just like the cheap rooms and inexpensive shows to get you to stay at the property and gamble in the casino.
This changed with all the celebrity chef restaurants starting to open in Las Vegas and the resort companies seeing the many things such as buffets as potential profit centers instead of a loss making service way to draw gamblers. The Cosmopolitan when it opened was a real game changer with its Wicked Spoon buffet that offered top quality food in small portions and became very popular so other higher end resorts decided to up there game too with more expensive items.
If its your first time visiting Las Vegas and your budget allows i would go to one higher end buffets and experience one of the best buffets at resorts such as Cosmopolitan, Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio or Wynn just to name a few. But if you want to save money and not blow your budget at when eating at buffets there is ways to save money.
Meal Time:
One way to save money is to either eat early in the day as usually breakfast is less expensive than lunch and lunch is less expensive than dinner. Some people also like to arrive at the tail end of one sitting so they can get items off the next sitting without paying for it; Many buffets close down usually an hour while they change from breakfast to lunch and the same from lunch to dinner, some items may not be available as they switch but it’s one way to get items off the next meal for no extra charge.
Theme Nights:
Another option is to avoid buffets on dinner theme nights if you are not going to partake in the item that’s part of the theme, examples of are prime rib night, lobster night, seafood feast etc; If you are not going to have prime rib for example on prime rib night you are paying a higher price than normal for dinner for a item you aren’t going to eat anyways.
Less Expensive Hotel:
Most often the nicer the hotel the more expensive the buffet is but it’s also more likely they will have better quality and wider selection of food items available. If you are looking for less expensive options on the Strip then hotels such as the Luxor, Excalibur, Flamingo, Harrahs or even the Stratosphere are good options.
Caesars Buffet Of Buffets:
The Buffet of Buffets deal has been around for many years and i remember when it first started it was $19.99 but things have changed as the price now is considerably higher. The way the deal works is you pay the fee and then can eat as much as you want at five Caesars Entertainment buffets for 24 hours from when you pay.
Pricing is generally $10 higher if you are not a Caesars Reward member but its free to sign up and, you must be 21. The weekday regular price for Caesars Reward members is $59.99 and the weekend price is $69.99. If you want to add on Caesar’s Palace popular and expansive Bacchanal Buffet that is an add on starting at $25.
The question you might be asking does the Buffet of Buffets deal save you money that kind of depends on how you use it but to get your moneys worth you have to get three meals out of it which can be done with a little planing.
Near Strip Properties:
Las Vegas April 2012
Another option is to head off Strip as prices are generally lower although there are several properties not too far off the Strip that can save you money. The Gold Coast, Palms and Rio are in a cluster a block off the Strip although if you walk you do have to navigate a busy freeway entrance and i wouldn’t advise walking when the temperatures are high. A free option to get to them is the Boyds shuttle that runs from the Strip to Gold Coast and another good choice the Orleans which is further off Strip.
The Palace Station which has recently gone through a refurbishment is another great option as thats also a long block from the Strip, i wouldn’t walk to this one its a long walk by a busy street but this buffet is also open at present 24 hours a day i would check current times before you visit.
Downtown Properties:
If you are heading Downtown anyways the three main buffets there are going to be generally less expensive than the strip with generally the Fremont the least expensive and then the Golden Nugget and Main Street Station a little more expensive.
Players Clubs:
Having a players card will often get you a discount on a buffet or you may get a bigger discount depending on your players card level or by trading in points. Off Strip or locals casinos are more likely to give you discounts with your players club but by using it when you often pay you often add to your points to use for comps.
Coupon Books:
Generally as the prices on Las Vegas buffets have gone up you see less and less discounts appear in the free coupon books and magazines; This being said it doesn’t mean you won’t find one as 2 for 1 buffets deals do appear for example so still worth checking out.
Spago was a long time fixture at the Forum Shops having opened in 1992 before it moved to the Bellagio last June, its former space is a prime location which should be a great location for the Water Grill. The Water Grill has four locations in Southern California as well as a location in Dallas, i have visited the Costa Mesa location and had a very good meal with great service so I look forward to checking out the Las Vegas location.
When you thought it wasn’t possible to add another fee in Las Vegas comes a new one although this one at least is optional; Two of he highest rated buffets have now added an option to skip the line and get seated right away for an additional fee on top of the meal charge. The Cosmopolitan’s Wicked Spoon Buffet charges $10 to skip the line and Caesars Palace top rated Bacchanal Buffet has a $25 skip the line fee.
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