We had a pretty unique experience for my girlfriend's Bday flight. Things started off great until we arrived at the launch field. As the crew setup, a man and his wife approached the crew as a last minute addition (they pulled up to the launch site). He convinced the crew to let them fly in our basket with us. There were already 4 couples and the pilot assigned to our basket, then the new couple was also added to our side of the basket. I don't think they should've over sold, especially during Covid-19... The worst part was the man who haggled his way onto our flight. He was incredibly loud, selfish, and even asked me to wear the sunglasses that were on my face so he could take a photo with them on. He would take short videos and play them back super loud during our would be mellow flight. Who does that?!?! He kept putting his elbow into my girlfriend's back and made her experience miserable. When we got back into the van he made the pilot sit in the back row so that his wife could sit shotgun. The crew agreed because they didn't want to ruin their tip. Meanwhile their tip was going down because of this couple. The man in the row he sat next to was so frustrated with him that they exchanged a few heated words and almost got into an altercation. Other than that the crew was helpful and nice. We just got unlucky with a packed basket and a basket case. read more

Compass Balloons - Balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Ballooning is a tricky business and we learned that in May. Too many clouds - too much wind and you cannot fly. Third time we were scheduled to go - we got to go and it was amazing. Bucket list item and we had a blast. read more

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Our first time riding on a hot air balloon the staff was very polite and helpful trough the process. The whole experience was amazing. We where cebrating my birthday on this day and the staff was great to recognize and celebrate my special day. Great experience. Mike the pilot was great, he definitely took the time to edueducate us on this experience and made it fun. Irvin and the rest of the crew where excelent staff. They took great care of us from beginning to end. Highly recomend taking a trip with compass . read more

Compass Balloons - Celebrating my birthday with Compass Balloons. Great experience . - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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We loved our balloon ride! Ryan was our Pilot! He was skilled, fun, funny, and great with guests !

Great all-around experience. Great crew with experience and professionalism. This is definitely an example of you get what you pay for. Fun and worthwhile experience. read more

Awesome experience. The private flight is expensive but worth it if you're doing it for a date or a small group. Josh was an awesome pilot & tour guide, and in addition to beautiful golden hour views, I learned a lot about how these flights are planned and operated---it's a lot of work! Everyone at Compass was super friendly from the moment we got picked up through the drop off at the end. One thing to note is that you should be somewhat adventurous & willing to go with the flow to enjoy this. Where they take off and land is determined by wind, so there may be changes/delays on the day of the flight (although we launched at the first spot we tried). Also, after the balloon inflates you have to jump up into the basket, which is pretty small, and during the flight you are very close to the heat source for the balloon, which is hot and loud when it fires. None of this bothered our group (who were excited for the flight and mesmerized by the scenery) and probably shouldn't be surprising given that this is, you know, a hot air balloon, but if you are expecting a jetway and plush leather seats this probably isn't the adventure for you. On a final note, the champagne to calm the pre-flight jitters and to celebrate after landing was a welcome nice touch. Highly recommend read more

. This was our first time hot air ballooning. Went with my family including 2 kids ages 6 and 8. Staff were very nice and accommodating The views were awesome and had a wonderful experience. read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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This company is AMAZING!!! Booked it for my sisters birthday. The crew (Ryan, Irvin, Jeremy) was VERY knowledgeable! We felt safe and had the time of our lives! Mimosas (bottomless) and pastries were included. The flight itself was mesmerizing! OMG...I can't want to do this again. Thank you so much for the amazing experience. And thank you to our crew who made the experience all the more special. read more

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I had gone on a hot air balloon excursion a while back but when I recently looked into it again I was curious to see why there seemed to be a dearth of companies who provided the service. As it turns out as a result of urban development there are are just less take off and landing spots in the than there were before. There is the option of going to Temecula for the sunrise option but let's just say there was someone in the party who was not a morning person! I was glad that Compass Balloons was still available. The first appointment time we got there the scheduled flight was actually canceled unfortunately. I understand that it happens - flight conditions need to be safe and I don't want to go out with more risk than is necessary. But we were given the option to call and reschedule the next available time that would work for us. Be forewarned thought his may happen more than once. I talked to some people who were with us that this was their third time trying. It's is the reality of this sort of activity though. The experience itself was great otherwise though. Our pilot was great and we the views were majestic. Being scared of heights I certainly preferred to stay more in the center of the group's basket but it is a unique experience to behold and worth doing. read more

It was a first time experience for both my girlfriend and I and we had awesome time. First of all, shout out to the crew that help set up balloon, track you from the ground and pack it all up at the end, they work very hard and without them this experience wouldn't be possible, and of course our skilled pilot who made the ride as smooth as possible. We made it to an altitude of about 5,300 feet and with that we were able to enjoy both ocean, suburban and mountain views! The basket is a bit crowded if you do the shared experience but we all had a great view from our side with no obstruction. I highly recommend it! We crossed that off our bucket list but I'd definitely do it again. read more

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I rode a ballon friday Jul 31...yesterday loll Seriously an amazing experience! and the guys/ staff were not only super professional and easy going but i could tell they really made an effort to provide an amazing service and experience for me and my friend Halle. I really feel that though i made an effort to tip online and cash...THESE GUYS DESERVE MORE because you get more than what you pay for ....so if you go please be willing to tip the guiys a generous amount...what an amazing experience....hope to be back soon !!!! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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The address listed is for three hotel across the street, the balloon crew will be in the parking lot across the street. The crew of very cool, tight knit, and professional. Our private balloon for 4 was 2k and cancelled twice due to wind, but I had a great engagement on our 3rd try. Free wine and soda and water before the ride, no snacks tho. Also shoutout to our pilot Dylan for being so cool read more

Compass Balloons - Hopping into the basket before it flies away - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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was pure magic! From the serene liftoff to the stunning views below, it's an adventure like no other. Expert crew and a tranquil ride made it unforgettable. A must-do for all thrill-seekers and nature lovers! read more

Going up in the air in a hot air balloon ride and the experience to be had really is just dependent on so many variables. It's difficult to justify getting upset due to not exactly seeing the sunset given landing before might be safer. If you get anxious in tight spaces I would recommend a private flight- however I am not sure if the cost $$$$$$$ was with it for 45 min or less - I am not really sure about that. Although - I do appreciate landing and taking off safely so that really is priceless. We are at the mercy of the winds, weather and pilot skill. It was a bucket list item, it was beautiful, I wish it lasted longer. Overall, it was beautiful- I appreciate our pilot very much. Our pilot was enthusiastic, always focused on safety and also very personable. Also- our driver who picked us up, was kind and thoughtful. Thank you for a lovely time. read more

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Really great. It was a lot of fun, and we learned a lot about this form of flight too. We are very glad that we did this, and think that picking Compass Balloons over the other companies was also a good choice. At least on our day, Compass flew higher, furthers, and over more scenery than any of the other companies that were flying that day. We felt like we made a really good choice in picking Compass. read more

If you are planning a balloon adventure I would HIGHLY recommend Ryan and his crew with Compass Balloons! We did the sunrise ride and it was super worth it. I booked them January 5th, 2024 to see the Sunrise for my husband birthday and they made our trip just awesome. They gave us overview and information as we enjoyed our trip, they answered questions without any hesitation and at the end we were given a brief history on how hot Air balloons got started. To Ryan and his crew...Thank you! read more

What an amazing experience! They were professional and courteous from start to finish. Ryan our pilot was incredible, with the highlight being a hot air balloon joke from his girlfriend I highly recommend it, the views were stunning. read more

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Had an absolute blast! Definitely recommend you do this if you are considering it. Everything was great from the staff, the communication, the balloon ride itself, all fantastic read more

Compass Balloons - View from the balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

We flew with Compass recently. What a great experience. Ryan is an excellent pilot. What a smooth flight and the landing was so easy and precise. Ryan and his crew were very nice. They were ready and waiting for us when we arrived early. We had a nice long beautiful ride over the vineyards of Temecula. They were also the most reasonable company for a private flight. We were celebrating a birthday an anniversary and my brother being here from out of state. They made it an extra special occasion. If you are planning a balloon adventure I would HIGHLYrecommend Ryan and his crew with Compass Balloons!! Hope to see you again soon Ryan and thank you soooooo much. read more

My husband and I went on with Compass Balloons to celebrate his birthday and make a few nice photos for my app The Wallpapers Club. It was an amazing adventure! Huge thanks to Ashraf, the entire Compass crew and amazing company of 5 people we've met on the flight. We've stared the adventure with champaign, fruits and snacks from Compass Balloons that was a nice touch. Also they've put a birthday banner on the balloon basket. When we were flying over Santa Fe a few folks saw us from the ground and waved hello, which was really cool. The Compass Balloons team knew what they were doing, they were friendly, confident, and professional. They've shared a lot of interesting facts on the way and were even able to rotate the ballon in the air (!) so that we can see some nice areas and make pictures. Kudos to the expert team and I would definitely recommend them! read more

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We got engaged at ~4,500 ft. and it couldn't have been better. From start to finish, these guys were top tier. The whole team was on board with the surprise, coordinated with our photographer (@hilaurenhello on Instagram, btw), and made the whole experience super easy. The ride itself was life changing, with views unlike anything we've ever seen (maybe that's expected). I can't speak highly enough of the staff and our pilot, Ryan, in particular. Thank you guys! We will enthusiastically recommend your services to others. Photo credit: Lauren Mihae Photography (@hilaurenhello) read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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We had a blast with these guys! It was an engagement proposal on a private sunset hot air balloon ride! Very beautiful and romantic! The views were breathtaking and our pilot was such a sweetheart with a great sense of humor! Had a wonderful ride and awesome easy landing! We loved every minute of it! Greatly recommended! Best of the best! read more

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I gifted my family a sunrise balloon flight for Christmas. And it was even better than I expected it to be! First off, the day before our flight, we got a call from the company wanting to know where we were driving in from - since they were on a weather hold that day. Hearing how far our drive was, they accommodated us by moving our flight back one day - at no charge, to make sure we got to go up. There are several options of balloon rides in Temecula. But when we met with our pilot, Ryan, he told us that we would be the first balloon up in the air - and we'd get to actually watch the sunrise from up on high... and we did! So many of the other companies were still on the ground and missed the sunrise. But not us! The team taking care of us were the kindest lads. My mother doesn't get around too well, and I'm no spring chicken. So, they let us "pre-board" so that we wouldn't hurt ourselves getting it. Thankfully, it all went well and no one strained anything trying to jump over and into the basket! Thanks guys for a great Christmas gift! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

such a great time flying with this tour. really recommend!! The pilot(Ryan and Josh) took care very well and they are very professional. it was so amzing while flying on the air. good view, nice whether, friendly, and enjoyable. read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Wow! What an experience!! Compass Balloons was amazing and so customer experience focused. Thank you for making sure that we all had a memorable time!! The views were inspiring and the flight was perfect. The champagne and snacks were a hit as well!! read more

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We had our first hot air balloon flight this morning. I am 76 and my husband is 78. We had a wonderful experience, piloted by Jeremy, who we just loved! He was informative about all of wine country, we felt safe and he made it a fun trip. Hector was our crew guy and he was so kind and a hard worker. I can't wait to book another flight!​ read more

The crew was amazing and the pilot was just wonderful. We couldn't have had a better experience. Five stars is not enough!

AMAZING!!! If we could give this company 10 stars we would. From start to finish the crew and pilot surpassed our expectations. I was worried about getting up so early, but I highly recommend the 5:45am ride! You will be the first (and possibly only) balloon out there to see the sunrise. 100% worth it!!! You can tell they are professionals and love what they're doing. With the world the way it is right now we absolutely needed some of that positive energy. What an incredible experience! I wouldn't book anywhere else. read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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Our pilot's name was Ryan and he was awesome from start to finish! He was easy-going, friendly, and didn't make us feel uncomfortable in any way. He didn't keep awkward silences but also didn't try and have constant conversation the entire ride, which I was greatly appreciative of. Sometimes, you just want to enjoy the view in silence with your family and friends, right? The sunset was beautiful, and the weather was great. We did have to wait quite a bit of time before take off (about 1/1.25 hrs) but they make up for that by providing snacks and champagne. It would have been nice to have somewhere to sit during this time, as the 1/1.5 hour balloon ride is also standing from start to finish, but it was fine. Overall, great experience and definitely think it's worth doing at least once in your lifetime! read more

Compass Balloons - Sunset in San Diego - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

We did a private sunrise tour in Temecula with Ash and Noah. Everything went so smoothly and they made our ride so enjoyable. I proposed after the ride and Ash videotaped it for me. Other employees also helped out with taking pictures before our ride and they also put up a banner for our anniversary on the balloon. They gave us plenty of champagne after and I would ride with them again. Thank you for such a great experience! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot air balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

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A fantastic sunset ride! One of the best parts of this ride was the crew. Would definitely do it again!

Absolutely incredible team! They did an amazing job treating us to the full experience... even flying us over uncommon areas of Temecula Valley, lots of lakes and beautiful scenery. Highly recommend Compass! read more

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Took my husband for his Bday .. very pleasant ride, the crew that join us very nice, " the captain" very experienced, the whole team that puts everything together very respectful and fun at the same time.. very organized. Loveeee the view, the weather was perfect.. very smooth ride.. thanks a lot, it was great! read more

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What an experience! Proposed to my girlfriend yesterday and had the most amazing help by Evan the owner who provided answers to all my questions and concerns leading up to the moment. The team that was there to transport us was amazing. Troy, our driver, was an awesome person to talk to and overall awesome guy who helped keep the proposal a secret as well as our pilot Josh who was amazing in giving us such a memorable experience and good laughs as I am not the best with heights, haha. Highly recommend those two guys and highly recommend flying with Compass Balloons! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Definitely worth getting up early and the price! A group of 4 of us celebrated out birthdays and the staff made it very memorable. The balloon pilot was very experienced and knowledgeable. We were the first balloon up in the air and the flight lasted 55 minutes followed by a smooth landing and mimosas. The other companies had their balloons up in the air much later when it was getting hotter. The staff was very customer service oriented and polite. I'd recommend this company in a heartbeat and I'm planning on using them again. Well deserved 5 stars! read more

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We had an amazing time flying with these guys. It was our first time flying in a hot air balloon. The pilot was very nice, knowledgeable and professional. The set up crew were polite and professional. Bring some cash and tip these guys, they work hard setting up for customers. The views were amazing and watching that sunrise up in the air is a must experience. We will definitely be back read more

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I went on a balloon ride last night (7/7/22) with my friend visiting from out of town and it was truly amazing. We had about an hour and a half ride and went up to almost 5000 feet up above Del Mar California which is the most beautiful flight path in the country. We got to see the sunset from our balloon and had a smooth landing thanks to our amazing pilot Ryan and the great ground crew guys (irvin, cam, and Julio). The whole experience was about 4 hours and I would recommend a hat in the balloon because the flame can be quite hot. read more

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AMAZING TRIP - everything was 1st class and so happy used this company -I called 8 other companies and for sure made the best decision on this one! Nelson P read more

Amazing personal and professional pilots. I loved the atmosphere and how they managed business. Complementary mimosas and snacks at the end was great. read more

Compass Balloons - Compass balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

This was my first ever balloon ride, taken with my daughter on the occasion of her 18th birthday. Our pilot was fantastic, and the ground crew was exceptional. The ride was smooth and beautiful, it had rained the day prior and the air was crystal clear. In a balloon, you have no sensation of movement or wind because you are moving at the same speed as the wind, so it was actually fairly warm (especially if you are on the end near the burners!). We loved every minute of it and especially liked the fact we only had 8 passengers (plus the pilot) - so everyone could get a good look at everything and not feel jostled or crowded. Kudos Compass! Keep up the great work! I also have to compliment our pilot - he landed the balloon on a road that was no more than 20 feet across - didn't even get our shoes dirty! It was an amazingly smooth landing... Also - note that when you go to meet the balloon crew, you will be meeting in the parking lot at the intersection of Birmingham and I-5 - across from the Valero Station / El Pueblo Mexican Restaurant (seriously - go get the fish tacos for $.99, they are amazing....). Don't look for an office building! These guys are mobile! read more