Peter Greenberg: All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in Las Vegas

By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-07-24

Q: Peter, can you name five or six all-you-can-eat buffets for under $10 in Las Vegas?

–Aadil
Roversford, Pa.

A: There are two different types of all-you-can-eat buffets in Sin City: The first is the traditional pay-per-meal type, and the newer model is the pay-per-day type.

The following three hotels have all-day buffets and charge separately for each meal. The French Market Buffet at the Orleans is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers international cuisine for $10 to $16 per meal. Main Street Station Hotel has the Garden Court Buffet, which has nine food stations and prices ranging from $7–$14 per meal. Circus Buffet at Circus Circus is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for $9–$11, depending on which meal you choose.

Two hotels moving toward the "day pass" model are the Excalibur and the MGM Grand. No doubt, the offers are spurred by the tight economy, which brings customers looking for better value for their money. Throughout 2009, the Hotel Excalibur is offering a promotional "All You Can Eat, All Day Long" deal for only $25. You can eat as many times as you would like during the day, plus you get VIP-entrance privileges which allow you to skip the line. If you do the math, that works out to only $6.25 per meal, assuming you eat four meals per day. The MGM Grand is offering an all-day buffet deal for $29.99, which is good for one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, saving you about $28 off à la carte meal prices.

Remember, buffets are very popular, and since you generally can't make reservations, you'll want to arrive a little early or a little later than everyone else to avoid long lines.