Wondering if someone could provide some further guidance on ways to bypass the queues for buffets on the strip? I found an older post that mentions:
1. People staying at the hotel/casino get to skip the regular queue.
2. Buffet line passes are provided if you spend some time gaming.
3. Slipping the hostess a tip

- I don't think there's much more to add to item 1.
- With regards to item 2, how long would you have to play at a table or slots to earn this comp? We're only going to be playing $5-$10 BJ and maybe quarter slots. We're not looking to have the cost of the buffet comped but just to skip the queue. While the pit boss can be easily found at the tables, where do you track down the slot hostess to get the comp?
- With regards to item 3, how much of tip are we looking at?

TIA.

1) I've never seen a queue that lets hotel guests fast entry, unless the are already have status in the players club.

2) Its very easy to get comped a buffet, especially if you spend some time playing and chatting to the pit boss, if you dont want it comped you can just ask them for a line pass, some of them though dont seem to have them -at the Bellagio for example the pit boss didnt 'seem' to have any.

3) depends on the place, cheap buffet 5/10 depending on how many of you there are, better one, a $20 should be fine.

The easiest way is to skip the buffet and go to a non-buffet restuarant -- each hotel has many of those.

gamble.

A lot!

When I stayed at Bellagio and signed up for the Players Club, they gave me a line pass without asking, and with no play. It was valid just for that stay.

^ good advise. I'm not a fan of buffet.

the only sure way to bypass the lines at the buffets (or other "casino restaurants" for that matter) is to have status at the casino and use the short line. it's the same as having status with an airline and being able to use the elite line. other than that, you could try the "vegas passkey" .

Go towards the end of lunch, eat slowly and wait for the dinner items to come out.

Rio had a line for hotel guests and Diamond/Platinum players. It's been a couple of years since I was in there so I don't know if they still include hotel guests. The entrance was farther toward the west exit door. They also seated people in a section where I believe there was more service.

It was a nice perk but I still preferred a regular restaurant for anything other than breakfast.

At Wynn, my red Tower Suites Room Key Card was spotted by the line manageress, and she waved me into the speedy line both mornings because of that - staying in the nicer part of the hotel may have such perks attached, though I agree it is not formalised or documented.

all of the harrah's/rio/etc properties have lines for diamond/platinum players at all of the restaurants (buffet & regular) and shows

When I stayed at Bally's the last time I was in LV (2 years ago?), I asked someone at the front desk about bypassing the regular queue. He said all guests staying at Bally's automatically get to skip the regular queue and proceeded to write me up a line pass on the spot. I think I may have shown him my slot card but he didn't check the credits on it or anything. We wanted to go the Sterling Brunch but unfortunately we missed it (timing didn't work out).


I've had buffet discussions numerous times with my buddies. Yes, the value is sometimes questionable (unless you stuff yourself silly) and the quality subpar (relatively speaking). But every so often, we just want a lot of variety and a buffet fits the bill.

Just came back from Bellagio a few hours ago. When we checked in on Sat morning I received a 'Line Pass' at checkin for the buffet lines, good for this stay only.

I'm not certain if all hotel guests get it or if it was a result of tipping the front desk clerk for a better room (see the thread on this forum, for the lowest package rate for Deluxe Rooms eg. standard room we ended up in two Lakefront Deluxe Rooms on floors 23-24).

I'm not a member in players club, so that wasn't a factor.

Oh, and the Bellagio weekend brunch buffet was just excellent; very good food, great variety, much better than the others I've tried (Luxor, Mandalay, MGM).

Sami

I tend to agree! ^

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