How to Eat Free in Las Vegas

Food and everything else can be had for free in Las Vegas if .... and that is a huge if. First, if you gamble enough money in a hotel casino, management will offer you free drinks, free suites, free entertainment and, of course, free meals whenever you choose to enjoy them.

Of course, the management isn't doing this out of the kindness of the heart ... something almost nonexistent in Sin City ... but because you gamble large amounts. You can see them at the tables, the so-called whales, people who plop down ten thousand dollars on a hand of blackjack or the turn of the roulette wheel.

Of course, management knows the odds of gamblers winning money are very slim, so the free meals are merely incentive to keep the whales floating into the casinos. For the ordinary visitor to Vegas, there are ways to get free food without making big bets.

The basic way is to do your homework before you get to Vegas. If you're planning a trip, check with your favorite hometown or online travel agency about what are called package deals. They're vacations with one price that covers air transportation, hotel room, some free meals and incentive bonuses.

Be flexible about your schedule, because the price varies. For example, if your hotel stay is on Monday through Thursday nights, the price may be as much as 50% of what you'd pay if you'd be in Vegas on Friday and Saturday nights. Chances are there would be no free meals in the more costly weekend package. The simple fact is that Vegas hotels always fill up on weekends, and the incentive is to bring people in to fill up the rooms during the week.

Before you leave home for your flight to Vegas, scan as many websites about hotels, casinos, restaurants and other places that serve meals as possible. Look specifically for coupons that offer free meals. Clip them and take them with you on your trip. In most Vegas places, kids under 12 always eat free.

When you check into your hotel in Vegas, ask the desk clerk for all the free meal offers available there and elsewhere. Because the economy has been very tough on Vegas lately, you may find your package deal at that hotel includes all meals free. Some hotels actually offer their package deals to include 24-hour free dining at their buffets.

It's easy to find sources for free meals in Vegas. The hard part is trying not to lose all your money in the casinos, so you'll be able to afford to buy food when you get home.