Waking up to the promise of a good hotel breakfast buffet is a wonderful feeling. You're imagining strips of crispy bacon ...

McDonald's breakfast with hotcakes, eggs, a biscuit, and a hash brown - The Art of Pics/Shutterstock Buffets are a time-honored tradition in many contexts — brunch, dinner, or even a candy buffet.

Before you rely on that free breakfast to start your day, consider whether it's truly worth the hype or if it might be better to skip it, and find a more satisfying all-you-can-eat buffet nearby.