Finding a place to eat in Las Vegas isn't as easy as you would expect. You can't just go out to eat on a whim, especially on the main strip. Instead, it takes careful planning-or at least some sense-in order to eat what you want, when you want. Follow these tips and you will have a much better time finding something to eat while you're on your vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada.

No matter where you go on the strip, you'll run into large crowds anywhere you want to dine. Be prepared to wait in line and sit amongst a crowded room of strangers. And this applies to nearly every time of day. After all, this is Las Vegas: the city that never sleeps. Believe me, you'll still see a lot of people in that café at three in the morning.

There are many really great and famous restaurants in Las Vegas. Some people even come here just for the food (or so they say). If you plan to eat at one of the snazzier restaurants, then definitely make a reservation ahead of time or you probably won't get in and you'll end up eating chili hot dogs wrapped in a tortilla from the local gas station.

When people think of casinos and Las Vegas, they usually think of buffets as well. There are some common misconceptions about these, though. For one, you can't find any of those fabled 25 cent buffets you see on television and in movies. On the contrary, you may end up paying 25 dollars or more per person for the privilege of eating at one. This is especially the case with buffets in the big hotels. Also, be aware that if a buffet starts at nine, get there either an hour early or an hour late. Lines for these grow fast and long, but you can get in right away if you wait an hour after it starts.

A big mistake I made while on vacation in Las Vegas was to say, "I'm hungry. Let's go find somewhere to eat." We ended up walking around for over an hour. Most places were too packed for us to just walk right in. If you plan to do this, don't wait until you're already hungry. I was near cannibalistic by the time we found a suitable Las Vegas restaurant.

If all else fails, you can always rely on room service. Depending on your hotel, this can actually be a lot more affordable than you'd expect. Some hotels even have a special breakfast menu that you can fill out ahead of time. Then, in the morning after a long night of partying and gambling, you have your breakfast waiting for you. This is much better than walking around town all day!

Most people worry so much about the shows they'll see and the casinos they'll lose their money in that they forget to plan their meals. Eating in Las Vegas is not as easy as eating in other tourist towns, so plan wisely! Then, you can at least be well fed on your vacation there.

All article images copywrite Trisha Bartle.