The best experience ever !! We showed up to the site bright and early the team was very organized…read more Our driver was so sweet and explained everything he was so funny with everything and calmed my nerves without knowing because I am afraid of heights but didn't express it when he asked the group he explained how safe it was and how it would feel being in the air and in the basket which he was right. Every step was explained to us . When we got there the crew set up and they took our pics it was cute because it was our anniversary and they gave us a sign to hold and made sure everyone got their picture taken . We had the privilege of being flown by the owners son. He had so much cool information the guys loved it but so did the gals. He knew all of the mountains names and lakes names and explain to us how he flies and gets into the winds currents using the fire . Told us how fast we were going and it felt so calm in the air we got to see the sunrise it was gorgeous. He got up I think 6,000 feet above sea level . He said we got up on a really good day and not every flight is the same . Also the heat from the fire and the body warmth made it feel nice in the air it felt like room temperature even though the morning was cold , take a jacket for sure . After we landed and he explained everything before we did . Went got to have mimosas and he told us the history of the first air balloon and rides while the crew wrapped up the gear. He shared some his own personal hobbies and sports and injuries . Such a cool guy and very interesting to hear and talk to . He rode us back to the winery which his family also owns . Thank you so much to your whole crew it was amazing ! The vibes were it! I will attach pictures and feel blessed to have had such a great experience so thank you

I'm giving California Dreamin' Hot Air Balloon Adventures 2 stars because the actual balloon ride…read moreitself was beautiful and offered incredible views of Temecula Wine Country. Unfortunately, the overall experience was disappointing. Our day started at 4:05 AM with a hotel pickup. We were then driven to the owner's property to sign waivers. For an additional fee, guests receive a bottle of wine and a Nothing Bundt Cake. However, the bottle of wine we were given had no label whatsoever, so we had no idea what type of wine it was, where it came from, or any information about it. Afterward, we were transported to the launch site. Once there, we waited approximately 45 minutes while the balloon was being set up. During that time, three other balloon companies arrived after us and were airborne within about 10 minutes. It was frustrating to spend so much time standing around waiting. The flight itself was amazing and the reason this review is getting 2 stars instead of 1. The landing was rough and felt unstable, as though the basket could tip over. We landed on private property where the owner appeared upset that we were there, which created an uncomfortable situation for everyone. After landing, we then waited another 30-45 minutes before being allowed out of the basket while the crew deflated and packed everything up. Once again, there was a lot of standing around and waiting. When the post-flight celebration finally began, guests were offered Costco Prosecco, apple cider, and orange juice. What stood out was that one of the crew members was serving drinks with visibly dirty hands, which was not particularly appetizing. In addition, an already-open, partially consumed bottle of orange juice was brought out and served to guests. That felt unprofessional and unsanitary. The overall celebration was very underwhelming. Considering this is Temecula Wine Country, I expected something more thoughtful and polished than Costco Prosecco and a mystery bottle of unlabeled wine. And they left it on the truck What was most disappointing were several unprofessional comments made during the experience. There were jokes and remarks involving naked women and drug-related topics that felt inappropriate, especially in a business setting where guests of all ages and backgrounds are present. It made the experience feel less professional than expected. We also landed in an area surrounded by brush and were warned about the possibility of snakes while waiting for transportation. Overall, the balloon ride itself was fantastic, but the customer experience, professionalis

We had an amazing time today on our balloon ride. Matt was a great pilot. I highly recommend doing…read morethis bucket list ride. It's very peaceful. Watching the sunrise from the air was spectacular.

My boyfriend and I came to do a hot air balloon ride for the first time for my birthday!…read more The employees really had everything down to a science and I felt confident that they were experienced and knew what they were doing. It was SO early, and it really was good I had a jacket before we got into the balloon because it was chilly, but it is warm up in the air and in the balloon! Watching the set up and tear down ended up feeling like a part of the experience. The ride itself was amazing. It was unreal and so pretty!!! Our pilot had so much fun knowledge of the area and kept everyone engaged and entertained. At the end, they provided a champagne toast and certificates which was such a nice touch. I am definitely glad we went with this company and highly recommend them to anyone else interested in checking out a hot air balloon ride!

Absolutely recommend Compass Balloons--10/10 experience!…read more My husband and I booked a flight to celebrate our anniversary, and it was beyond worth it. This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list experiences, and we'll never forget it. Ryan was our pilot and did an incredible job--friendly, professional, and made us feel completely safe from start to finish. The ground crew (Hector, Alejandro, and one other team member) were also fantastic--super helpful and made the whole experience seamless. We've already started telling all our friends to book a flight. Huge thanks to the Compass Balloons team for making our anniversary so memorable!

My guy surprised me with a balloon ride and it was soo much fun! Definitely sketchy getting there,…read morebut worth it in the end (thank you crew for helping my guy surprise me). This is something we've been wanting to do for a while now, and Compass did a great job of making everything special. The views were phenomenal! The pilot was very knowledgeable and was pointing out what everything was (very helpful for me since I don't know the area very well). This was also during fire season, so we got a cool view of the mountains with a layer of ocean fog and a layer of smoke. There was one other balloon flying the same day, and it was a bit sad to see them going higher than us. They also started before us and landed after we did. The pilot was trying to explain that it's all based on the air and whatnot, but I'm not sure how accurate that is when another balloon is showing differently at the same time. Anywho, I still really enjoyed the whole experience! Few things that weren't great: 1 I went across the street to the gas station to use the restroom before we left, and the van had followed me over there without telling me. A truck or something ended up blocking them, so I walked back across the street to look for them. I didn't have my phone or anything and had to use a stranger's phone to find out where they were. Unfortunately, the stranger also spoiled the surprise that my guy worked soo hard for 2 there was supposed to be some snackies included (cheese, fresh fruit), but we did not get any 3 things felt pretty rushed the whole time we were there Overall, would definitely recommend this to others! I truly enjoyed this. Shoutout to my amazing guy for planning it all!

Amazing and Unforgettable Experience!…read more We met at the designated meeting point at 5:00 a.m., and by 5:15 a.m. we were driving to the launch location. The crew was extremely organized and professional. It was fascinating to watch them set up and inflate the balloon, and by around 5:50 a.m. we were ready for takeoff. I wasn't nervous at all because the ride was incredibly smooth from start to finish. We spent about 45 minutes in the air, enjoying breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere. The weather was perfect, and floating above the landscape as the sun came up was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our captain was very professional, knowledgeable, and engaging. He shared interesting information throughout the flight and made everyone feel comfortable and safe. The entire crew worked together seamlessly and clearly cared about providing a great experience for their guests. After researching several companies, I chose Cielo Balloons, and I'm so glad I did. My search results were right. Cielo Balloons exceeded my expectations with their professionalism, organization, and excellent customer service. Everything was well planned and executed from beginning to end. I highly recommend Cielo Balloons to anyone considering a hot air balloon ride. It was an unforgettable experience, and I would absolutely do it again!

let me start off with saying, the crew and overall experience was 5 stars…read more the reason for the 3 stars is because we had to wait more than an hour to find a spot to fly up n once we finally got in the air, time was cut short. we missed the sun rise as well. they had to test the wind, but i suggest they have someone go ahead to test n find perfect launch zone before the people arrive in the van. balloons were flying already when we were just waiting in the van. n then again once found the launch zone n were in the air for a shirt anount of time.

So glad we checked this off the bucket list. We had a great experience. Despite the morning being…read morevery foggy from having warm weather the day before, the company did a great job of finding clear skies to take off from. Pilot Denni (the owner of the company with almost 40 years of pilot experience) was great and landed in the same place we took off, which is likened to a hole in one in golf. The whole experience was less than 3hrs. The ride itself lasted about an hour. We were transported to and from the launch and landing sites. They took some pictures for us and provided a balloon ride certificate at the end with discounts for local wineries and businesses. Mimosas and a bag of snacks were provided at the end. It was a great experience and would recommend to anyone willing to wake up before sunrise.

What a magically dreamy adventure! Can't believe it's taken me (a thrill seeker) so long to go on a…read morehot air balloon, but better late than never! It was actually a lot more calm and peaceful than I thought it would be! Even my friend, who's afraid of heights, did it! Sure, she was pretty scared at first and stayed close to the center of the basket, avoiding to look out and down, but she started feeling more comfortable the longer we were in the sky. We booked on their website and used the promo code "Groupon" for a discounted price of about $180 per person. The meeting point was in the parking lot of a shopping center in Temecula at 5:30am. There, they went over some rules, info about hot air ballooning and there was a photographer/videographer, Wesly Cajuste, selling packages for stills and a video. He has a drone that follows the balloon. My friends and I decided to go for it since it was our first time and it was a special occasion (friend's birthday). We were very happy with the way the video and the photos came out. Then, a couple shuttle vans took us to where they were setting up the hot air balloons, which varies depending on the wind. Before getting in the basket, we got to go in the balloon while they were inflating it. It was chilly in the morning, but it gets pretty warm being under the propane tank, so hats and layers are suggested. We were 4 groups of 4 and were assigned to a huge balloon with 4 separate compartments we were snug in. The knowledgeable and experienced pilot, Brian, was in the middle. I read that the baskets have doors but we had to climb in ours. The ride was about an hour long and we had a spectacular view of Temecula valley. I was a little nervous about the landing, but Brian is clearly a pro and did a magnificent job with a smooth landing on an open field. No mimosas in the air since there are no restrooms, but they busted out the Crooks when we got out! The website said breakfast, but they actually just give out ziplocked bags of snacks. Lol! Totally not necessary. The balloon ride was the ultimate highlight! They also give a certificate, which includes a list of wineries you can get discounts at for having done the hot air experience.

Had such a great time on the wine tour! Megan was so cool, chill, and fun, and she even took…read morepictures for us throughout the day. We got to do a ton of tastings and had such a fun time. Definitely coming back again!

Got tickets for hot air balloon a year ago through third party. They redeemed our code via phone…read morethat made it non refundable. Flash forward three attempts later to rebook and getting canceled. And trying to get refunded being unsuccessful, We switched to do the wine tour instead which is less money ticket wise. All the communication was confusing the emails said one thing and they group text with others numbers as well. There were many numbers to call like three different ones. Then they made us do a mandatory 20$ tip per person before the tour which I found confusing because our original ticket was already more. We asked to waive it but they couldn't its thier policy. The bus tour had 30 people in it so it was cramped. The tour itself was cool three spots and hour spent on each site. But it felt more like a promotional tour.

Joshua was amazing! I proposed to my girlfriend and he made the whole experience so much easier- he…read moreeven helped me with diverting her attention long enough for me to get down on one knee :) The air ballon ride itself was also super smooth and gave us such a beautiful view. 10/10!

What a perfect day! Joshua and the team made my proposal perfect. Couldn't recommend them enough!read more

Fabulous time!!!! Great crew from chk in to chk out. Made it super easy, convenient & fun!…read more One-hour flight was perfect. Priceless memory. They took loads of photos we were able to get off their website and they captured tons of fun photographs. Was not aware of the obligatory tip of $25 per person, $50 per couple until the night before/final text. Something which should be stated in booking perhaps.

Loved this! Upon check-in, everything was so organized. Having a slight fear of heights, I was…read morerelieved. ..the whole trip was EPIC! very organized and professional, yet super fun and personable. Our pilot, Megan, was AMAZING. I loved that she knew all of the points of interest and pointed out all the different directions to relate to all. She has a super fun with And was cracking jokes while being very confident because it's obvious she knows what she's doing! I would highly recommend this Tour, even if you feel like you might be afraid of heights. (A little champagne helps as well and thank you, Sunrise Balloons, for that!) it was super cool watching the landing guys pull that balloon down. The entire event was absolutely EPIC!

Interested in taking a sunrise float above the vineyards in Temecula or a sunset ride by the coast…read morein San Diego county? Compass balloons offer both! These guys are the real deal and offered an incredible experience! Communication was great letting us know suggested clothing to wear prior to our adventure and also throughout the evening so we knew what to expect. We met off the 5 in Cardiff at 4:30pm on a hot, summer Sunday. After using the restroom (there isn't one available after this point), they drove us in comfortable vans to a couple of spots to check the wind- they take this part seriously with the precious cargo they had in tow (11 people split up between three vans). We went to two different locations and after deciding the launch area, they set up the balloons, while we were offered water, soda or Champagne. Three beautiful balloons were flying today and all the guys from the drivers, to the basket runners/catchers to the pilots worked very hard getting them ready. It was fascinating to watch. Soon we were called to climb on and then we were up and away, seamlessly, floating over Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar. Amazing is an understatement! Pilot Ryan and Jacob were pros and navigated the balloon with ease. We floated with the clouds for over an hour and of course, it went by way too quickly but, it was really worth it. Nate and Nathanael were there at landing to catch our basket and Ryan explained the history of ballooning over a champagne toast when the sun was setting. Although this was on my bucket list for over two decades and I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity, I think a sunrise ride in Temecula may be in order to compare the am vs pm experiences. Time will tell. Thanks so much, team Compass for making my birthday so fun and memorable!

We booked a sunset hot air balloon ride with Compass Balloons for our 15th wedding anniversary and…read morehad a really memorable experience! Booking was easy through their website. They communicated with us beforehand about where and when to meet, as well as recommendations for what to wear. We went on a Saturday in June, and the booking listed the entire experience as approximately 5:30-9pm, which ended up being pretty accurate. We met in a designated parking lot and got into a van with several other passengers. From there, they drove us to the location where the balloon would be launched. Once we arrived, we got out and watched the crew inflate the balloon. They had champagne and snacks available while we waited, which was a nice touch. My only wish was that there had been somewhere to sit during this part. Once it was time to get into the basket, everyone was definitely snuggled in . There were quite a few people, but surprisingly it never felt claustrophobic. Our pilot was professional, personable and informative. He explained what was happening throughout the flight and pointed things out along the way. The balloon ride itself lasted about an hour. We booked the sunset flight and the views were absolutely beautiful. It was peaceful, romantic and such a unique way to celebrate our anniversary. One thing I hadn't really thought about beforehand was standing for the entire flight. By the end of the hour, I was definitely ready to sit down! Our landing was bumpy, but actually pretty fun. The less-fun part came afterward. We landed in an area that the van couldn't get close to, so the men in our group got out and helped move the balloon closer to where the van could reach us. My husband's shoes ended up full of sticks, and while we waited for the van there were mosquitoes. I was VERY glad I had worn pants and brought a jacket, although the mosquitoes still managed to find my ankles! Once we were back in the van, we waited while the crew packed everything up and then rode back to the original parking lot to get our car. It makes for a fairly long evening, so I'd recommend planning for the full time listed and wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes, pants and layers. Overall, I'm really glad we did it. The sunset was beautiful, our pilot was great, and it was a romantic and memorable experience for our 15th anniversary. I probably wouldn't personally do another hot air balloon ride, but that's only because I've officially checked this one off my bucket list! I would absolutely recommend Compass Balloons to someone wanting to experience it. The only part I think could be improved is the experience surrounding the landing and pickup. I understand that balloon landing locations depend on conditions and aren't completely predictable, but having passengers help move the balloon through the brush wasn't ideal. Aside from that, we had a great experience and I'm really happy we did it!

Three of us celebrated my sister's birthday and we had a blast. I appreciated the bus being…read moredecorated for her and our driver was so sweet and patient. We couldn't handle 18 tastings a piece but we enjoyed ourselves at each of the three wineries. I would have loved to enjoy the bus more but because the wineries were so close together, it was almost impossible.

Steve was great at coordinating our wine tasting day for a party of 16. He chose three wineries and…read morethey were great selections. The only part I would do next time for such a large group is request longer than 4 1/2 hours booking because it was really hard to get all of our tastings done at each winery. Louie was an excellent driver and made sure he checked us in, seated us and told us how much time we had left. He was a safe driver and dealt with our music and singing on the way back to our rental.