Look, I'm already the kind of person who's up before the sun -- but I've never been rewarded for it quite like this. Turns out sunrise hits different when you're floating a few thousand feet above the Sonoran Desert in a giant colorful balloon. Jonathan was our pilot and honestly the man is half comedian, half science teacher -- and somehow nailing both roles simultaneously. He kept the whole basket smiling the entire ride, cracking jokes while dropping knowledge about the desert landscape, wind patterns, and balloon mechanics like it's a TED Talk you actually want to attend. The guy just has a gift for keeping people entertained and informed at the same time. The views? Absolutely unreal. One moment you're staring at rugged Sonoran mountain ranges looking like God's personal screensaver, and then you drift a bit and you're peering down at a run-down commercial district that looks like it lost a fight with the 1990s. Honestly, the contrast is part of the charm -- nature's majesty on the left, a sketchy strip mall on the right. The desert keeps it real. Now here's my one PSA: bring a hat. Nobody warned me that every time Jonathan fires that burner, the top of your head gets a little preview of what a rotisserie chicken feels like. I now understand my scalp on a spiritual level. If you're tall, may God have mercy on your hair follicles. But seriously -- Hot Air Expeditions nailed it, and Jonathan made the whole experience unforgettable. Part tour guide, part entertainer, full send. 10/10, would risk mild scalp roasting again. read more

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We recently did a sunrise hot air balloon ride with them and it was phenomenal! The process to make reservations was easy and thorough, the site provided lots of information ahead of time. I appreciated that the default breakfast choice is vegetarian. The entire staff was great. From our driver to the guy who flew the drone to the balloon pilot- everyone was friendly and really informative. I appreciated the option to purchase drone footage and it turned out amazing. Our balloon was brand new and we were the first group to fly in it, which was cool. Picnic breakfast after was really cute and delicious. The burritos were nice and hot! Cannot say enough great things. Definitely check them out! read more

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This was one of the most amazing experiences I had. I checked something off my bucket list! The people were so nice and organized. You get a complimentary champagne glass and light breakfast afterwards. The views were so worth it. If you've been thinking about it... do it! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

10/10 experience The pilot of the air balloon and the 2 guys helping him were phenomenal! You could tell they loved what they do and they did it so well. The communication, transportation, execution, and overall experience were fantastic. I cannot wait to book it again! FYI the food and the mimosas are so worth it, food is hot and delicious and there was plenty of champagne for the mimosas + some! read more

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The shared sunset balloon ride ($239.00) included van transportation to and from the launch site located approximately 3.4 mi south of Lake Pleasant (a 20 min drive from Deer Valley Airport), a 45 min to one hr hot air balloon ride over the desert with other hot air balloons (at elevations up to 4,000 ft above ground) and a fun, adventurous, but controlled landing near the launch site while holding rope handles and squatting down. The balloon ride was followed with flight certificates, a reading of a traditional balloonist's toast, plenty of champagne and a packaged snack from Murray's consisting of grapes, cheese, crackers, nuts and fig spread. The balloon ride offered great desert views including local mountains and Lake Pleasant. The only sounds to be heard from the ground were the distant sounds coming from the nearby Cowtown gun range and a nearby dirt bike track. Our pilot Alisa was first-rate - cheerful, helpful, informative and experienced. She pointed out area landmarks and answered all questions with ease. The snack appears to have been downgraded from what was promised on the website without any notice, but it still went well with the champagne. Excellent! read more

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Great experience, loved how my guide let us be able to see what we wanted to see and would change direction just for you. Thanks for this great experience with my family. read more

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A bucket list experience! McKenna kept us feeling safe and comfortable. I am so grateful we chose this company over the others, it is clear they are the best of the best!! read more

INCREDIBLE!!! What a FANTASTIC experience & bday gift that comes highly recommended. Definitely a bucket list item I was able to check off my list :) I want to say a BIG thank you to our Captain, Alisa who did a phenomenal First Class job, taking us up in the hot air balloon & landing us safely back on the ground. She made us feel very comfortable, safe, she was friendly & lots of fun! Also a BIG thank you to Gates who was our Crew Chief & made sure everything was set up to take off & to land. Alisa & Gates worked very well together to assure our safety in the air & on the ground. Make sure to request them as a team. They were full of knowledge about the sites we saw & history on hot air balloons & a lot of fun!!! We had nice horderves & champagne after the ride as we watched the beautiful sunset. Just enjoy the pics/video I posted, they speak for themselves. Hotairexpeditions.com read more

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Outstanding experience! It's been on our bucket list for years! Our pilot was amazing, knowledgeable & fun! read more

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What a fantastic experience! Definitely worth waking up at an ungodly hour for. Everything was well organized and the staff was great. I would recommend this as an unforgettable and unique memory for anyone in the area. Watching the sun rise and seeing the other hot air balloons floating nearby was truly breathtaking. read more

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Awesome experience! Highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about doing it. Getting in and out of the basket was a bit tricky, but other than that it was a smooth ride throughout. I didn't experience any discomfort during the ride. I have a fear of heights, but the basket was deep enough to make me feel safe. Our operator claims to be a world class competitive hot air balloon pilot. His expertise was evident throughout. Not a single bump or jerky movements during the entire ride. Landing was a slightly rough which was expected. I went along with a friend on a Sunday morning for the early sunrise ride. We actually booked the ride for a Monday morning a week prior. It got cancelled because of bad winds. We found out about it after we drove all the way there and checked in. So, this time we were pretty anxious. Luckily, no issues this time. We checked in at around 6:30 am and then around 7am we were driven to the place where the hot air balloon actually flew from. It was a 10min drive. The sun was just getting out from behind the mountains and it was a sight to remember. All the pretty balloons were getting filled up already by the time we got there. We were up in the air in no time. After we got back from the balloon ride, we were served breakfast, cake, champagne and orange juice in the desert. It was fun. The crew were pretty engaging and well organized. They made a simple hot air balloon looking thing out of the cork from the champagne bottle for the people who were celebrating their birthdays. We were all given certificates for the ride. That attention to those small details is well appreciated. The entire thing from check in to return took a little over 3 hours. read more

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This was an absolutely amazing experience. I found a deal on Groupon and knew I had to take advantage of it. This was the grand finally and best way to close out our trip in Phoenix. We drove to the Deer Valley airport in order to checkin, and from there the van took us to the field to experience an unforgettable experience. Our driver and crew member Alex was great and noted how skilled and great our captain Jonathan was. On top of that, they already had the balloon ready when we got there so we'd be sure to catch the sunrise. All the personal touches were great. Before takeoff, Alex was able to get some great photos and videos for us to help capture the moment which I really appreciated. Jonathan our captain was amazing. You could definitely tell he knew what he was doing, along with really enjoys what he does. I enjoyed his humor and it just added to a pleasant experience. The ride was smooth and it's like you were floating or gliding in the air. The views were amazing and unforgettable. Seeing the mountains and sunrise had me in awe. The landing was also very smooth. All of the crew did an amazing job. The breakfast after the ride was nice and I enjoyed hearing some history of the origin of hot air ballooning. Again, Jonathan added some humor in there and really just added to the experience with his personality. Even the small things of parking the van in front of the sun so it wasn't beating on us didn't go unnoticed. There was a couple celebrating an anniversary in our group so they surprised the group with a cake. The glasses were super cute so we had to buy one lol. They are $15 for anyone wondering. You also receive a certificate for flying which is another thing that adds to the experience. I definitely would fly with them again and recommend to anyone thinking about doing a hot air balloon ride to book with Hot Air Expeditions if in Phoenix! read more

This was a birthday surprise for my husband to mark off our bucket list...We got to watch them inflate the balloon, which was faster than I had expected. The basket has no "door" so prepare to climb in (about40" high, I don't recommend wearing a dress). The basket is rectangular sectioned off with/4 dividers & the pilot in center. Since there were 11 in our party, 3 were placed in 3 sections & one had just 2, so its hard to move around. I'd recommend only 2 per section, if possible. The view is spectacular. Going up is easy, coming down a lil bumpy but better than I thought. They even provided a nice Continental breakfast w/cheese, croissant, quiche, a lil fruit, bday cake & champagne & orange juice (& lots of water). Everyone gets a nice certificate in the end to frame as a nice reminder/souvenir! Sunset flights resume in November when weather allows, since its too hot & a fire hazard in the heat of summer. But if you can be at the airport by 5:15 to prepare for takeoff, the sunrise flights are probably equally magnificent! I would highly recommend giving it a try! read more

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Top notch experience.. crew chief Nick and our pilot/captain Jonathon were not only professional but extremely personal . They made our trip an experience we will never forget. Their attention to detail and personal connection was outstanding! Highly recommend for an unforgettable experience! read more

Took my mom here for her birthday and it was an absolute blast! She & I loved the whole experience & recommend this business to all read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Very cool experience! Got to Deer Valley Airport where we check in and parked at 5:15 am, Driver Mike escorted us on their company's van to the hot air balloon take off location. The sunrise and views from above was absolutely beautiful. It was not scary at all, very peaceful and the ride was very smooth. Captain Jonathan was very funny and made it such a fun time. When we landed, the staff put together tables and breakfast for us - served mimosas, croissant, quiche, apple slices, cheese and we were given a certificate, sugar cookie and the champagne glasses were ours to keep. Great memory to always cherish - bucket list checked off! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Beautiful sunrise - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Such a great experience! Jonathan was such a great captain and showed us such great hospitality! The view is so beautiful and the breakfast afterwards was great! read more

If you're thinking about it... DO IT!!! I booked a morning flight for my husbands birthday and we loved everything about this experience. I am so happy we did this! Detailed instructions and information were sent prior to the day of our flight. We didn't need hotel pickup, but they do offer that service. Finding the van in the morning to start was very simple and we didn't wait long to head out to our flight location. There were 6-7 of their balloons taking off at the same time in the same location and that was so cool to watch all of them get set up and take off. They had a birthday banner they put on the side of the basket and take your photo which was a nice touch! The whole flight was smooth, we felt very safe, and I wasn't scared even being 6000 ft up in the air! Bill was our pilot and honestly made our experience that much better. He was so funny, engaging, and super knowledgeable. He had everyone sing happy birthday to my husband while we were in the air too! The views were amazing and the hour flight time was perfect. After we landed the breakfast picnic they set up was so cute and delicious. They even had cake for everyone to celebrate my husbands birthday! Champagne and mimosas were the cherry on top. I am SO happy we booked a hot air balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions and I would recommend them to everyone in the valley or visiting. read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We were gifted a hot air balloon ride from my friend for Christmas last year. My husband and I were terrified, so we waited quite awhile to use it. Totally unnecessary though, it's not scary at all! Bill was our pilot, and he led us through the air effortlessly. We hardly felt like we were moving and felt so safe the whole time! We had a great experience in the air, and when you land, they set up a nice picnic in the middle of the desert literally wherever you land. Our flight lasted a little over an hour in the air. We even saw some burros from the balloon! The only frustration of mine (and most others in our transport van) was not having access to a bathroom. Due to weather, we waited over two hours AFTER we got to the location to take off. Multiple of us asked if we could drive up the road to the bathroom since we had been waiting so long. We were told to go pee in a bush... there was 45 min between when we asked and when we finally were getting ready to go. Had we waited, it would've been at least another three hours before we could access a bathroom. Hopefully in the future, they invest in renting a portapotty! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This was a very fun experience! You are instructed to arrive 10 min early (6:20am) which is completely understandable. However, the last people ended up arriving 20 min later and the group does not leave until all attendants are present. So you have to stand outside in the cold for a while, dress warm! Once you take the shuttle to the site, you standby while they inflate the balloon. Once in the air it becomes very serene. Our "captains" name was Kasey. He was very nice and had lots of great information to share during the ride. We were in the air for a little over an hour and everything went smoothly. After we landed, we were treated to a "gourmet" breakfast on picnic tables. Food was a vegan burrito, some grapes, a pastry, and champagne with orange juice. Not sure id say it was "gourmet" but it was enjoyable with nice views. Overall, great experience! Would definitely recommend. Not as scary as it seems! read more

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What a fun experience! My dream to go on a hot air balloon ride over Phoenix finally came to be thanks to Hot Air Expeditions. We went on their sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran desert with great views of the nearby towns including a great view of downtown Phoenix. I've never been on a hot air balloon ride, but the crew were all experts and handled everything professionally and safely. The ride (float?) was about an hour long and we changed elevations quite a few times over the trip. The sights were beautiful and it was fun! Standing room in the basket was comfortable, but be aware for people with limited mobility that you are standing the entire ride. I appreciated the rides to and from the take off and landing locations. I enjoyed talking with the pilot and the complimentary breakfast after the flight was sufficient; the champagne/mimosas were the best part. A toast to new adventures! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Champagne - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Celebrated my birthday this year with a hot air balloon ride with Hot Air Expeditions and a time was had!!! I arrived at 5:19 to check in. I received a waiver of liability to complete and then instructed to sit inside of their van to ride to the launch site. Joy was our driver and also checked us in. She was informative and advised that we'd be riding on the 2nd largest balloon for the 20 of us . John was our pilot and had THE best sense of humor! Once we landed, we had a celebratory breakfast and listened to a short history lesson. Overall, everything was great and I'd highly recommend a hot air balloon with Hot Air Expeditions !! read more

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I wok at 4 very sleepy and waited for the pickup in 4:45, no car, 4:56, still no car, 4:57, got a cancellation email telling me not going due to weather, even tho the forecast didn't change at all and still showed sunny, me and my family were very disappointed, I do not recommend at all, very bad experience. read more

I was in the desert watching the flight and the descent from my camp site! I was only an admiring wanna be. Hope to take a flight soon! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Looking towards Anthem from Rio Vista! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Had the best time of my life! Ever moment was seamless. Jonathan is probably the best pilot ever so if you're planning on doing this, absolutely ask for him!!!!! Every staff member was lovely! There were so many beautiful touches at the end with the breakfast and champagne toast as well!!! My partner is afraid of heights, but we felt so safe from the start to finish!!!! Highly highly recommend!!!!! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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An absolutely amazing experience. Our captain Don and his crew were amazing. The views were beautiful and we felt very safe the entire time. If you're thinking about doing this you definitely should. read more

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Don & Marcus was the best ! Such a great crew, it made my friend & I first hot air ballon experience wonderful. I definitely recommend if you find yourself in Arizona. read more

Hot Air Balloon Happy Labor Day weekend! Spent this holiday weekend enjoying the warm weather and sailing among the skies @hotairexpeditions is a true professional outlet, handling transportation, launch and landing coordination, and a celebratory brunch Our captain Bill was a perfect host with hospitality, humor, and knowledge Highly recommend everyone try once! So peaceful and serene... Hot Air Launch / Balloon Inflation / Brunch / Toast Hot Air Expeditions read more

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Horrible experience. After landing we were stuck out in the desert for almost 2hrs, no water. Due to our extended time waiting to be picked up after landing we did not get our brunch that was part of the experience. Transportation that we paid extra for was in poor condition. Vents blew out hot air only, seal around the door was falling off and the driver had to keep rolling it up so passengers wouldn't trip. In all we were stuck at the mercy of this company for 6.5hrs for a 45 min ride in the hot air balloon. I have contacted the company but unfortunately they didn't see it as much of an inconvenience as we did. So I felt the need to steer others away from making the same mistake I did. Do your research before booking. read more

Bucket list item completed! What an amazing experience. Everything was wonderful from the ease of booking through the transportation and of course the ride itself. Our van driver was so personable and loved sharing information about the Phoenix area and giving information about how the morning would go. The van meets up with other vans as they decide where the launch site will be. We moved once so they'd have optimal conditions. Then the fun began! We watched the crew unload the balloon and basket and fire up the fans and flames. As they were doing this, we were able to get peeks inside the balloon from the top and bottom. Once fully inflated, we hopped in the basket and were ready to lift off. They gave us each a bottle of water to drink while on the flight. I was amazed at how smooth everything was. It barely felt like we were moving. Our pilot jonathan gave us information about the area and about ballooning. We were in the air about an hour and that time flew by. After landing, they had a nice brunch set up that had a quiche, apples, croissant and cheese. Nothing major or fancy, but a perfect bite with a tasty quiche. They also had champagne (on its own or as a mimosa), sparking cider and orange juice. During brunch they presented us with the history of hot air ballooning, the balloonist prayer and a certificate to certify our ride. Two days later and I'm still smiling from what a great experience it was. read more

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AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! I can't say enough about the level of professionalism, the knowledge of the captain/pilot (Mike and Zach) and crew chief (Kassidy), and all that was done to make this an exceptional experience for my friends and I! We came to AZ to celebrate my soon coming retirement and to do things we'd not done before: 11 soared, while 1 stayed w the chaser van. Those, like me, who had some concerns at the onset, had our fears addressed and allayed by Kassidy as she shared her personal experiences w ballooning. She was considerate enough to stop at a conv store for those of us who needed the facilities before the flight, but kept us on point to make it to see the ballon raise, board, and watch the sun break the horizon. Mike and Zach joked and had fun with us, but also explained to us how everything worked-ensuring we felt comfortable and calm! With 11, we were pretty packed in, but not so much that we couldn't turn and shift and all take great pics and enjoy the ride! It was sooooo calm and serene!! They took us up an official mile-high so we could brag to our friends! Coasted over hills and roads and a subdivision, and though we were shown how to brace for landing, it was smooth as butter! By the time we took pics and disembarked they had linen covered tables, mimosas (alcohol and non) and a warm breakfast waiting for us! They described the meal ahead of time and I really thought we'd have to go get brunch after the fact...but NONE of us were hungry after. Great stories. Great service. Just great people! My daughter is a scaredy cat about everything. She only joined in because of the celebration. Halfway through the ride, she was asking could we do it again, at sunset!! It's JUST THAT PEACEFUL... Major props to this company and the thought put into all the details: follow the instructions to the site and listen to what they tell you. Everything was exactly as they stated. And I love when I get what I paid for AND more Our Demographics: ages 31-68 (mostly mid 50s)Male and female. Mostly overweight (it is what it is: they didn't ask our weights but I suppose they ensured we balanced the basket correctly) and only one of us had ever ridden in a HAB! They surprised me w a "congratulations" banner on the side of the balloon, a moist and delicious cake, sliced after breakfast, and all the champagne we could drink! This was def a highlight of the weekend and I'm so glad we signed up with these guys! read more

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Hands down one of the best experiences I've ever had! This was truly a moment I'll never forget! The guide/man in charge was very knowledgeable! There were others in the basket with us & they were so fun which made the experience that much better. The pictures just don't do it justice. At the end we had a lovely breakfast. Everyone on the ride were celebrating something except us so that was fun! I personally loved the breakfast. It was small, so my boyfriend wasn't a fan. & can you say CHAMPAGNE !!! They ended up pulling out a second bottle for us lol Our morning ride was PERFECT! We got to see the sun rise also! read more

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This company is top notch. Captain Kasey was is very passionate about his job and it shows in work. When we landed they set up a fantastic brunch this is not included in the trip but an add on for our party. Highly recommended read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Ascended into the sky and land with a champagne brunch. Highly recommended! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We scheduled with this professional superb company for an unbelievable sunrise balloon ride .. Our pilot Jonathan was funny and so accommodating. Every employee we encountered, Nick the crew chief and the young lady who picked us up at our hotel couldn't have been nicer . We had a gourmet breakfast with champagne and a bistro set table ending with celebratory birthday cake . read more

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I booked a sunrise Hotair Balloon ride through their website. It costs around $220+ for an individual. This includes taxes, round trip transportation from select locations, a certificate, celebratory toast with champagne or mimosa, and breakfast. I was picked up from my hotel around 430am. The ride arrived late, but I understand that some other participants had difficulties. We reached the meet up point in 15 mins to pick up other participants. From there it was a 20 min ride to where the balloons were. The driver even made a pit stop to let us use the restroom. The flight crew began to setup and blow hotair into the balloon. Our flight crew was attentive, knowledgeable, and funny. Some even offered to take pictures. The participants all offered to take pictures of one another. The balloon was ready to go in 10 mins. We were instructed to hop into the basket with the help of a small stepping stool. Three people to one corner. Although the landing was bumpy and our basket actually tipped over, the ride was amazing! Thank you to the pilot, flight crew, and other participants. I definitely recommend this experience and company! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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What an amazing experience with an amazing crew! Our captain was Jonathan with Crew Chief Nick and two great guys on their team Joseph and Carlo. The flight was smooth, the view was beautiful, the weather was perfect! You feel very safe inside the balloon and there is plenty of room! Jonathan is very experienced, funny, and is full of positive energy! Everyone was very friendly, caring, and great to talk to! The breakfast was tasty with some yummy mimosas. All the details are thought out well from the beginning to the end of the trip! You even get a certificate at the end of your flight! Definitely a must do! read more

Hot Air Expeditions - Hot air Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We just flew with them a couple days ago. It was an amazing experience!!! Matt, our pilot, and Brie, our driver/set-up person had excellent customer service. The trip was a memory for a lifetime! My son wants to do it again. Highly recommend this company! read more

I will start off by saying that, unfortunately we weren't able to enjoy the entire experience as the weather wasn't permitting. With that being said the service we received was really great and thus I wanted to review that since no one had control on what the weather would be. We purchased a hotel pick up from Scottsdale and got picked up at 4:30 am. The location where the Company is stationed is about 45mins-1 hour from Scottsdale. Once there we signed waivers and hopped back in the van that took us another 30 mins to the actual spots where the hot air balloons take off. You do stop at a gas station for any snacks and for a restroom break on the way to the hot air balloon. Once you arrive at the take off location you are paired with a group and you get to watch them set up the entire hot air balloon, which is pretty cool. They are very clear on all the instructions and safety measures. Since we weren't able to fly they set up our brunch right where the take off was. It came with apple slices, cheese, a croissant, a danish, and mimosas. I really enjoyed the danish and well actually all of it. It was a light breakfast, but it was nice to have a bit of a snack, especially since you're up early for this. We were still given our certificates of flight completion, we were also able to keep our champagne glasses since we weren't able to fly, and they gave us a discounted rate or a voucher to return. I was happy that they were able to really focus on our safety and decided not to fly, rather than flying and having something terrible happen. I would highly recommend this company if you're in the Arizona area and would like to go on a hot air balloon. read more

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I had a great experience with Hot Air Expeditions. This was my first how air balloon ride so I didn't know what to expect. It was cool to see how they inflate the balloon and everything involved in running the whole operation. We had little wind the day we went which resulted in a nice and calm ride in the air at sunset. When reached back down to the ground, they set up a table with appetizers and champagne. Upon arriving at check-in, we took a van to the actually hot air balloon location, maybe 15 minutes. They had hand sanitizer and masks available. After the balloon is inflated, we all had to climb into the balloon. I would say you need to be pretty agile to hoist yourself into the basket. There are little foot holes on the side of the basket. They have a portable stool that can help too but you do have to do a bit of climbing. I highly encourage you to keep that in mind if you are planning to partake in this experience. We were up in the air for approximately an hour. Overall, it's the experience is at least three hours so be sure to plan accordingly. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to expect. Overall, it was a great experience. The staff was friendly and hardworking and ensure we were treated well. read more

If you have the time, capital, and hunting for something different go here. Probably one of the best things i've ever done. We did the sunrise ride which started around 6~ am. Shuttle grabbed us straight from the hotel, we picked up a couple more people, the straight to the departure zone. The team we were with were AMAZING. Great stories, great hosts. If this is something you've even remotely thought about doing, do it. Afterwards you get a nice little breakfast with some champagne. The best part, besides the view, was the landing. Absolutely hilarious seeing how it's managed and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

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