I was in Napa for a weeklong vacation with my mother and my sister. I booked this hot air ballon ride online for the second day of our visit. We were told to arrive for our experience at 5:45 am and we would have a quick meeting to prepare for our ride and be given pastries & coffee. We were right on time but we were told to not bring jackets or purses on board while we were walking to the meeting and we went back to our car to put those away. While doing so - we missed all of the meeting.
Then we were split up into three groups and rode out for about 45 minutes to the location that we would leave from. Instead of going over Napa Valley, we were going to ride above farmland, which was not what I was expected. It was changed due to weather and out of their control. Once we arrived we split up further into more groups. I realized we would have to literally scale the side of the basket - they provided no steps to get into the basket. You have to climb almost a foot to get in and out. This was never stated or explained in the advertising. There was no one there to assist me to get in or out of the ballon.
The experience in the air was somewhat enjoyable. However, getting out of the balloon was not. We had a little bit of a hard crash landing and then the pilot, Mike, warned us when we were getting out of the basket (you jump a foot down onto the ground with no help or steps) to be careful because he had seen several injuries.
Of course as I was forced to jump out, I twisted my ankle badly. I’m very short and it was quite a jump down. They could easily provide a portable step stool or inform you before you are 45 minutes away from the starting location what the process is like getting in and out of the hot air balloon. They don’t and you pay 239.00 for this experience (which includes brunch). It just seems like they would want to take every precaution to ensure your safety. But they don’t care about you.
They gave me an ice pack to put on my ankle as we rode back and I could never get it to pop and be cold. I did not get to have brunch because I was in pain and they gave me a 50 dollar refund. I had paid 776.00 for three people and that is what I got back.
And then because I basically could not walk around I had to leave early and did not get enjoy the rest of my vacation. I had to go to the emergency room to get my ankle checked out and that cost me 600 dollars total. I ended paying over 1000.00 for this experience, did not have fun, it ruined my vacation, and three months later my ankle is still bothering me.
So just be aware that if you choose to use this company they are not concerned with safety precautions in concern to getting you in and out of the balloon. If you are someone who is not tall or physically unable to jump a foot without hurting yourself don’t use this company.