Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Wine Country Balloons in Santa Rosa

4.4 (154) 397 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, United States

Categories

Balloon ride tour agency
Entertainment agency
Event planner
Recreation center
Transportation service
Travel agency
Wedding service

Location on the map

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, US

Phone: +1 707-538-7359
Site: https://winecountryballoons.com/

Opening hours

Monday:6 AM–5 PM
Tuesday:6 AM–5 PM
Wednesday:6 AM–5 PM
Thursday:6 AM–5 PM
Friday:6 AM–5 PM
Saturday:6 AM–5 PM
Sunday:6 AM–5 PM

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Total reviews rating 4.4

154 Reviews for Wine Country Balloons 2024:

Review №1

2024-06-15 23:59:36

The entire experience was beyond what I had imagined. Scott was a terrific pilot. He put us at ease with his good humor, his incredible knowledge of hot air balloon piloting, and his expertise at handling the balloon. His crew was also personable and professional. The presentation at the end of our adventure, complete with champagne, was the icing on the cake. It was a terrific way to celebrate turning 60 with my lifelong friends.

Review №2

2023-11-28 04:29:14

Imagine being held aloft by the winds, hovering the carpeted landscape of Sonoma below. The wonder fills you as your pilot regales you with the history of the land you effortlessly hover above.Wine Country Balloons hosted us on a gorgeous autumn afternoon where Sonoma displayed her beautiful colors.The experience was absolutely breathtaking.Reservations were easy to navigate. Scott,our pilot, was a generous host who saw to our comfort, safety, and facilitated a beautiful flight!Much gratitude to the entire crew who welcomed me to my first flight. It will not be my last!

Review №3

2024-03-10 01:59:23

One of the most delightful experiences of our lives! We could not imagine a better pilot and crew to lift our spirits up to the sky and carry us safely and expertly over the glorious Sonoma county wine country for our anniversary. The flight was even more enjoyable than we expected! Special thanks to the Captain whose skill and expertise is exceeded only by his wit and warm personality.

Review №4

2024-06-14 12:52:16

Awesome way to see a beautiful part of Northern California. Flight was smooth and relaxing, start to finish. Very experienced pilot in Scott. Was great to just quietly bob up and down in the basket while we took in the sights of the valley below and mountain ranges in the distance. You move up or down to find some wind to push us further on our journey. Its pretty cool experience. Highly recommended if your in the area.

Review №5

2024-06-04 18:26:34

Fantastic Experience all around! Scott and his crew were kind, confidently well-experienced, and highly funny - all of which made the experience far more comforting and seamless than I could have hoped for. The set-up process of was so fun to witness up close. You can learn about science, wine country, and lots more from Scott during the excursion, or just enjoy the views and jokes he throws in. The flight itself is beyond easy going and the views are incredible (well worth the early morning), highly recommend!

Review №6

2024-06-14 17:08:26

Wonderful experience - I highly recommend it. The entire trip from getting on the tram to the launch site, watching the balloon get inflated, the actual flight itself with its amazing views, the landing and post-flight celebratory glass of champagne and video of balloon history - all of it was definitely worth the price. Once in a lifetime memory I will cherish for years to come. Thank you to our fantastic pilot, Scott and his sense of humor and fantastic people and balloon flying skills!

Review №7

2024-06-09 18:19:31

A great experience overall. Fun and friendly staff. I was surprised how serene 1,500 felt. Go get high with Wine County Balloons!

Review №8

2023-12-19 01:48:08

I had an amazing experience with Wine Country Balloons! Scott made the journey so memorable with his kindness, humor, and informative commentary. His knowledge of the region made it feel like a tour of Sonoma from the skies. His passion for ballooning was palpable, and it really elevated the entire experience. The breathtaking views are forever in my memory! I felt safe the entire time. The crew was super professional and kind as well. It was truly an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

Review №9

2024-04-18 22:35:31

We enjoyed an amazing flight with Scott, at Wine Country Balloons, on Wednesday April 17th, floating over the Russian River Valley and seeing the vineyards and fields in all their Spring beauty. The flight was smooth and calm and allowed us to view all the hills on both sides of the valley. Scott was knowledgeable about the area and made our trip so enjoyable. Thanks too to the ground crew who helped to get everything set up and cleaned up. The champagne brunch finished our flight experience off perfectly. I would do it again! Joe and Brenda

Review №10

2023-01-25 04:12:38

A hot air balloon ride has always been on my bucket list and Scott and his crew at Wine Country Balloon Rides made it an amazing experience. Lifting into the air and gliding on the air currents seemed effortless and so smooth. To see the countryside from that view was spectacular and Scott gives you lots of information about ballooning. Getting to help fill the balloon and then folding it up again was also a neat experience. Contact Scott for a ride of a life time.

Review №11

2024-06-21 07:30:26

Going up in the balloon with Wine Country Balloons was a beautiful experience! It was everything I had hoped it would be. Sonoma County is so beautiful, you have to see it from up there! Our pilot, Scott was awesome and had great stories to share.

Review №12

2024-05-09 05:33:05

What a magnificent experience! I have never been on a ballon ride before and was nervous but excited!Scott made me feel safe and took us on the most amazing trip ever!!I would highly recommend and if I ever find myself back in California I will go again!!!

Review №13

2024-03-28 01:25:12

Absolutely breathtaking! The team at Wine Country Balloons made our experience unforgettable. It was as if I wasn’t even flying - so very gentle. The pilot made it all look so easy and he was quite knowledgeable about things to do in the area. The views of the Sonoma Wine Country from our basket were simply stunning. Thank you for making my whole family feel so very well taken care of

Review №14

2021-09-07 03:44:05

This was awesome and the highlight of our trip to Wine Country. Scott was so knowledgeable and talked to us about the hot air balloon process, it’s history and many of his adventures. If you wanted to help with setting up the balloon you could/and I did! His crew were all nice and insured we had a good trip! Highly recommend this to anyone.

Review №15

2023-11-29 17:47:31

This was one of those experiences you will never forget. I’m thirty and have done a lot so far in life and this is just such an beautiful experience seeing the land from a different perspective. Scott’s an amazing pilot and very knowledgeable of the surrounding area!! So it’s never a dull moment. Great for family and friends and a bit different than your regular Napa/Sonoma winery getaway!! See the vineyards from a birds point of view!!

Review №16

2024-01-19 20:01:20

After getting fogged out multiple times (darn weather!), we finally managed to get in the air with Scott and it was such a pleasure! Scott and his team were so much fun to fly with. We got to witness them set up and inflate the balloon and learn all about the flight process. Once we were up in the air, the wind took us for an incredible journey through the Russian River Valley and Scott shared decades of accumulated knowledge on the area. It was so lovely getting to fly and get to know Scott. Hes an absolute delight and we highly recommend Wine Country Balloons for any special occasions!

Review №17

2022-06-25 14:31:57

Highly Recommend! A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for a long time. The whole experience of inflating the balloon, flying over the beautiful vineyards, and landing at the airport exceeded my expectations!! Scott and his crew were great ~ friendly, knowledgeable, humorous, and professional.

Review №18

2022-02-23 18:10:34

After seeing hot air balloons fly above me for most of my life, I can happily say that my family and I were finally able to experience it for ourselves. Our pilot, Scott, at Wine Country Balloons made sure we knew exactly what to expect and answered all of our questions. We felt thoroughly safe the entire time, which is what mattered the most to us. Our flight was smooth, peaceful, and unforgettable. The only thing I would caution is for anyone living out of town. With weather being so unpredictable, we had to reschedule our flight a couple of times at the last minute. Scott was very accommodating, however, and was able to easily reschedule us each time. Flying when conditions are safe was obviously the most important thing, so we didnt mind waiting. Very pleased that we can finally check this off of our bucket list!

Review №19

2023-02-20 20:15:46

My fiancée and I had an absolute blast on our first hot air balloon flight on Feb 10, 2023. Sky conditions couldnt be more perfect and there were only us and another couple, besides Michael, the pilot!Larry and Perrin really worked their tails off to make this a day to remember!And having the chance to talk to Scott afterwards and share experiences made this day even more special.Wed recommend flying with these guys and maybe one day be lucky to come back with our kids and do a family flight with them!Thank you,Juliana and Rod

Review №20

2018-01-23 03:07:04

Great experience for lifetime. It’s a very smooth ride all over and never felt scary. The pilot has given some good narration about how the hot air balloon rides started. Scott and Ben have been very nice through out the process of booking slot and until completing the ride. I recommend this ride for everyone to see some great views in Sonoma County.

Review №21

2022-06-03 19:55:23

We had a wonderful time riding with Wine Country Balloons in Sonoma Valley for our honeymoon! Scott was an excellent pilot and we enjoyed beautiful scenery in the valley as well as a very calm elevator style landing. Could not have asked for a better trip!

Review №22

2021-07-13 18:14:41

I’ve flown in a few balloon rides but my partner had not. This was the most smooth, enjoyable ride I could have asked for for his first time. Scott is engaging, receptive, a master pilot and it shows in how safe, informed and considered everyone feels on his Hot Air Balloon rides! I love how organized it was and how safe we were in Scotts care. Highly recommend!!

Review №23

2024-01-02 09:01:30

The hot air balloon ride was joyful and extremely scenic to witness the breathtaking mountains, trees and farms on location. Scott is a wonderful man. His company is the only one that can accommodate disabled people like me. As a host, he is warm, erudite, and eloquent. He shows a true passion for flying balloons and educating others about flying. He also has cellphone holders to enable taking selfies in the air without dropping the phone. It was the highlight of 2023 for our family!

Review №24

2021-08-22 22:22:37

My girlfriend and I recently took a private ride with Scott. Let me tell you it was the most amazing experience ever. We were both scared of heights and didnt know what to expect. It was exactly as smooth as he described. The views were gorgeous and his history and knowledge was amazing. He and I spoke prior about a midair proposal. He recorded the entire thing and we have a great video to now look back on. That day was perfect in every way. Thank you Scott and if you were wondering she happily said yes.

Review №25

2023-07-03 14:05:13

Wonderful experience and fun family activity for all ages. My parents who are 83 and 79 also enjoyed it without any issues. Scott and his team are very professional and provided a fun and safe experience. Overall highly recommended to do this at least once.We came from the Bay Area and were staying nearby and this activity was one of the highlights. We met with Scott at 6 am and then we head off to the launch site by a van where we saw the inflating of the balloon. Very interesting. Then we took off. Take off is really like going up on a slow elevator. We spent around an hour on the balloon with all the beautiful Sonoma wine tree farms. The landing which was supposed to be the most exciting part was non eventful. Overall a very peaceful ride. Finally we finished with a champagne toast when we returned back to the starting point. Btw there is good breakfast place where they serve the champagne and if you want you can have a breakfast and even use the restrooms. We did not have breakfast there but the food looked good. Anyway Everyone had a good time. So thank you Scott.One thing I felt pressured was the tipping part. It felt like it was mandatory. Every place starting from the website to the waiver forms the gratuity part was mentioned several times. I have no issue tipping but why mention it everywhere, even in the waiver agreement.

Review №26

2022-03-27 15:21:15

I highly recommend taking this flight with Wine Country Balloons. Scott was fantastic and shared some great stories about the history of the balloons. The views were amazing over Sonoma County. The weather was great at the end of March although California can be so unpredictable. The ride ended with a champagne toast and you are welcome to enjoy breakfast at Kaffe Mocha if you choose. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!!

Review №27

2023-10-31 00:31:48

What an amazing experience. The friendly and professional people at Wine Country Balloons made this such a memorable trip for my family and I. Our pilot, Michael, even put our slightly anxious passengers at ease with his friendly personality and sharing knowledge of decades long ballooning experience. He was terrific. The ride itself was so smooth and calm and it felt like we landed on pillows of cotton. Id recommend this outfit to anybody. I look forward to booking another flight with them in the future. Do yourself a favor and book a trip now!

Review №28

2021-05-28 22:22:19

Our first balloon ride! We were a little bummed abt the extra charge for being over the weight limit for 4 people, but we enjoyed the ride. It was over an hr long with no hiccups and a champagne toast at the end. Definitely a bucket list fun activity.

Review №29

2021-10-19 12:19:28

My group was looking for a last minute balloon reservation in Napa, but all of them were booked up. I reached out to Wine Country Balloons expecting they wouldn’t have an opening for the next day, but they did! The instructions for where to meet, what to bring, what to expect, etc. were all very clear. Not to mention, the most important part is that the pilots were very experienced and engaging with the group. We never once felt unsafe. I will say the scenery is a bit underwhelming since you fly over mostly residential/business areas. However, you can still see the mountains in the background and we really enjoyed the experience.

Review №30

2019-04-09 06:04:39

I called the week of to see if they could squeeze me in last minute and luckily they had someone drop out. The gentleman on the phone was extremely nice, he also said he would honor the Groupon price. Great!***I feel like there are many negative reviews, but if you read closely most of the reviews deal with issues regarding Groupon.Its never too early to get high! Well Maybe, I live out in Oakland and you have to be in Santa Rosa at 6am. The whole experience is about 4-5 hours. You are actually in the air for 1 hour. You meet at Starbucks, which is a win to get some coffee and use the bathroom before you get on the bus. You drive about 30 minutes and stop at a general store for another bathroom break and snacks. Another 15 minutes after that and you arrive at the take off location. The balloons are absolutely majestic and beautiful. You finally get up in the air around 8:30 am. There are about 20 other people with you, you get split up in 2 different groups. Each balloon holds about 10 people. Although there are several other people on the hot air balloon, you never feel crowded. You still can have your own private time and enjoy feeling like youre the only ones one there This activity is perfect for groups, couples, families, etc.Scott was our guide, he was hilarious and very knowledgeable, and has been flying balloons for over 35 years. Its a very intimate experience, Scott greeted us at Starbucks, drove us, and was our guide up in the air. The company is very small and not many employees. I am all about supporting our local businesses.Being is the air is incredible, amazing, and breath taking. Not once did I ever feel unsafe. After the balloon ride they take you back to where you originally met, where you can eat at a cafe and they provide a complimentary glass of champagne. A perfect way to end the whole experience. All the workers are extremely nice and they walk around and talk to you. I would highly recommend the hot air balloon ride. I loved it so much, Im going to do it again.

Review №31

2017-08-30 18:47:25

Had a fantastic time. Pilot was very knowledgeable about the local history and occupants. And ballooning. Ended up launching out of the secondary sight (Middleton) due to fog in the main launch area. Flight was well executed and about 2-2.5 hours in the air. Winds we not too aggressive today so we really got up there! Be advised if you end up out of the secondary launch area it is about a 50 minute drive through VERY windy roads so if you experience motion sickness from driving be prepared

Review №32

2023-11-19 09:54:27

My flight with Wine Country Balloons wasn’t just a ‘ride’, it was mind-expanding adventure! The two person balloon is an extraordinary experience unlike anything you can imagine. One moment my feet were resting comfortably on the ground, then a blast of heat directed up into the colorful balloon by the skillful pilot, and suddenly the earth fell away and we were one with the Wind! I’ll never forget the patchwork of Sonoma County’s autumn colors gently rolling by far below…drifting gracefully around Fitch Mountain carried on an invisible river of cool morning breezes.

Review №33

2023-09-17 22:38:34

Being in a wheelchair I thought I missed out on a balloon experience until pilot Scott said we can make it work! It was easy and comfortable! They made sure I had a great spot to view from and the sights were unbelievable. We had a great flight with seeing a lot the wine country from the sky. Also loved the end with the champagne toast and history of ballooning! Everyone should do this as it once in a lifetime experience!

Review №34

2023-10-19 14:53:25

Excellent hot air balloon ride from start to finish. Our pilot Scott was outstanding. He has a ton of flying experience and his jokes and comments made the overall experience that much better. We took off from a beautiful vineyard and the feeling of peace and serenity while flying was unbelievable. We even got to assist with the inflation and deflation process of the balloon! Definitely a 5-Star experience for our group of five people.

Review №35

2022-10-03 17:14:19

Superb experience! We were fogged out the first two chances, but third time was a charm. Scott was a capable, informed, and hilarious host. His chase crew of Balloonatics were great. What a way to wrap our CA vacation!

Review №36

2023-10-24 21:47:17

I have always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon, but until the other day, had not had the opportunity to do so. But when I did contact Scott with Wine Country Balloon Tours, I immediately knew that I had made the right choice. The booking was very straight forward, and I found the cost to be very reasonable. On the day of the flight I was a little nervous but mostly excited. The weather that day was perfect for ballooning, and the ride to the launch site was enjoyable. We traveled in style in a comfortableand upscale passenger bus through scenic wine country settings, and arrived at our launch site where we witnessed the inflation and pre flight operations of Barra, a grand hot air balloon. Once everything was ready, we lifted off gracefully, and the feeling of that was unforgettable. We soared above vineyards and scenic forests, and pilot Scott expertly navigatedus to our landing site among the cabernet grape vines. The chase vehicle and crew arrived immediately to pack up the basket and balloon, and Scott then drove us back to the Kaffe from where we had started earlier that morning. All in all it was an incredible experience thanks to Scott and his amazing crew.

Review №37

2022-05-08 23:57:04

Scott was an excellent host, superb pilot and made everyone on the tour laugh most of the time. The experience was really pretty amazing. We went up to 1300ft back down again, over neighborhoods and businesses then back up again. It was a really interesting ride. We ended up landing at the airport. I was very impressed with Scott. He has the process of ballooning down to a science but is so casual and funny that you do not even notice. He is also very interested in his clients and I watched him relate to many different kinds of people. I will most likely go up with Scott again this fall

Review №38

2023-10-17 01:30:55

Wine Country Balloons is the best! Captain Scott is a true Hot Air Balloon Pro! The take off and landing was flawless. Capt Scott made it fun and educational at the same time. The Champagne at the end was a bonus. Highly recommended!

Review №39

2021-08-31 06:01:28

After getting our flight cancelled for a couple times due to inclement weather conditions, which would be the case most of the times in the Bay Area I guess, we were finally able to take the ride we were long waiting for..And I must say it was an amazing ride and with a pilot like Scott it got even better…would highly recommend it…

Review №40

2019-11-14 19:14:35

Was such an amazing experience! It was a beautiful morning, as we we made our way over the Santa Rosa area. Our pilot was outstanding, soft landing. Overall best ballooning adventure can’t wait to come back!

Review №41

2021-07-12 22:13:33

I absolutely loved my experience flying with Wine Country Balloons! It was my second time flying with them, and I loved every minute of it! From watching the balloon be inflated, to the take off, the journey above oak trees and the undulating California hills, to the gentle landing. Every moment I felt safe and well cared for. Scott is a delightful storyteller and a perfect pilot for this wonderful adventure. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking a special journey into the sky to take in beautiful Sonoma County from a bird’s eye view.

Review №42

2022-10-18 01:45:26

Great Balloon Ride!!!❤️♥️with Wine Country Balloons 🎈🎈🎈This balloon ride with Scott van der Horst and team was spectacular. Beautiful views. The team provides such care for all participants.Scott is a top notch Pilot in that he assured everyone we would safe and have a blast. Admittedly I was scared about the ride, but Scotts reassuring and confidence of his 50+ years of ballooning and flying, with very calming statements about the risks left me with zero/zilch anxiety after boarding the balloon basket. It was quite surprising as I have a known fear of heights.I highly recommend the experience and encourage everyone to fly with Wine Country Balloons!! They are the best.

Review №43

2023-10-29 14:12:56

This is one of the most amazing bucket list experiences possible to get checked off! The owner of this company is incredibly knowledgeable, incredibly professional, and absolutely the best person to be guiding others through this tremendous experience! 5 stars does not fully represent the experience you get with this company/family. If youre considering this for yourself or your family, all I can say is that it will be worth it!

Review №44

2023-10-13 23:57:07

We enjoyed a fabulously beautiful balloon ride over gorgeous vineyards. Our pilot was funny and super experienced. We could see another balloon company and we were enjoying much more height. I highly recommend Wine Country Balloons!!!

Review №45

2023-10-14 01:15:33

That was a fantastic experience. Scott is very knowledgable about ballooning and about the area. He let us know about where and what we flew over. He let us know about what was going on as they set the balloon up and what and how they inflated and got everything set up. Then as I mentioned told us a lot about ballooning in general. Then also how he figured out where he would try to land

Review №46

2022-06-08 04:18:05

Our experience with Scott and his crew from pick up to drop off, launch off to landing and such a beautiful and peaceful flight was perfect and memorable. We truly recommend looking these guys up for an awesome and safe balloon ride. Scott was very entertaining and informative to say the least.Thank you Scott for a memorable ride!!

Review №47

2021-07-13 19:27:31

Scott is a wonderful man and a spectacular pilot. He made sure everyone felt welcome and shared some interesting facts on the history of hot air balloons. We greatly enjoyed our flight with him. I am very glad the weather worked out beautiful for the flight and would definitely recommend Wine Country Balloons to anyone looking to catch a ride in such a fascinating contraption!

Review №48

2023-11-18 22:03:01

The wine Country Balloon ride was incredible. The pilot Scott was friendly, informative and a hoot. The entire experience was something I will never forget. Thank you Scott

Review №49

2021-04-29 22:23:02

My 2 daughters and I had an amazing experience flying with chief pilot, Scott, for my daughters 18th birthday! Scott was a blast from start to finish; he provided a lot of information about the history of hot air balloons as well as the surrounding wine country area. He answered all of our questions, ensured our safety, was professional, and his chase crew was awesome!! Im still laughing from some of the things Scott said, I feel like I made a friend for life. See you again in a few months Wine Country Balloons!!

Review №50

2022-07-12 17:57:18

What a fun ride!Scott is full of great wit and wisdom!Ask him anything about flying!It was a beautiful day. My mom and dad really enjoyed everything including the champagne toast and history video afterwards!We got that peaceful easy feeling ❤️

Review №51

2022-05-03 20:12:56

I thought Scott was GREAT ! WE felt very confident with him form the first moment we met.The wind picked up a lot faster and stronger than anyone predicted so therefore we had the added bonus of a longer flight! It was gorgeous. We had a bumpy landing due to the aforementioned wind change but it was handled very well and we all are safe and sound. Very exciting adventure for certain I am up for anther one for sure :-)

Review №52

2022-03-27 02:57:01

A+, above and beyond experience. We flew with pilot Scott, who later shared that he and his father were one of about a dozen people in the world to start flying modern propane fueled balloons in the 1970s. Everything started on time and Scott checked in with all attendees leading up to the flight to confirm safe weather conditions. The crew was professional and Scott was not only entertaining but also shared the history of how hot air balloons came to prominence.A+ experience. Request Scott for the pilot!

Review №53

2021-07-19 23:21:55

Wine Country Balloons is one of the best adventures to make time for, if you are visiting Sonoma county, or even if you live there. Scott is an experienced pilot and always makes everyone comfortable. I really enjoyed the information he shares on the ride about how the air currents move and he is well versed in the geography also! The flight is well worth the cost, and the early morning air is refreshing. So call Scott and get in the basket…it’s bigger than you think!

Review №54

2022-09-13 20:28:11

We had the an awesome experience!The weather was absolutely perfect and we could not believe how much it felt like we were just floating so peacefully along! Our balloon “barra” was very knowledgeable of the countryside as we floated along, not to mention his expertise experience and qualifications.Scott was also very personable and funny! We had a great time!!!

Review №55

2018-05-02 15:10:53

Appreciated the communication and repsonsiveness from Scott as we were on vacation, and didnt live there is complete the ride at any time. Scott was professional and courteous, and it was fun being involved in the set up and take down as well. Wonderful flight, great views, great time. If you havent done this at least once, you need to. Scott and his chaser were nice people to be with, and we even enjoyed breakfast with them after the flight.

Review №56

2021-07-20 06:49:59

I had the most amazing balloon ride ever! Scott, our pilot, was professional, responsive, funny, and accommodating (had to reschedule for better weather so I could get the experience I most deeply desired). Fog threatened our flight but he was patient and it turned out to be a gorgeous day where we flew higher than usual to catch some moving air and saw from the mountains to the ocean!!! This was my bucketlist item 40th birthday celebration and Scott made it a very smooth, entertaining, and unforgettable ride! We even had to jump a fence in the balloon at the end... now thats something you dont see or do everyday!!!! Our group cant wait for our next ride with him! It was simply spectacular! 😍

Review №57

2021-07-19 02:53:49

Scott and his team made a long standing birthday surprise worth the wait! Incredibly professional and dedicated so that all of their guests have a wonderful and safe soar through the skies over Sonoma. His navigation into the world of ballooning and the landscapes we were flying over was insightful without being intrusive. His communication about weather conditions were spot on and we were so exited to be able to fly (when so many other companies could not that day). Cannot recommend Wine Country Balloons enough.

Review №58

2021-07-16 21:58:05

I highly recommend Scott to be your Ballon pilot for the most breath taking spectacular balloon experience youll ever enjoy having in this beautiful wine country. I have known the pilot Mr. Scott van der Horst since 1988. Hes a very safe and experienced pilot is very polite to his customers and balloon crew. I have had to opportunity to be both guest 3 times and crew member of many of his flights. He and his crew members take what they do seriously with safety in mind. And PLEASE dont forget your camera because youll be able to see Sonoma County and all its beauty it has to offer.

Review №59

2017-11-14 00:02:55

My 83 year old Mother and I had a wonderful experience flying with Wine Country Balloons. From start to finish, the office staff, crew and pilot were all courteous, fun and very informative. Some of the negative reviews relating to cancellations are confusing to me. I would much rather have a cancellation if the flight is potentially dangerous, than fly just to take my money. While having to cancel was disappointing the first time around, I’m glad our safety was the priority. Waiver and agreement outlines very clearly whats involved and what to expect. Our pilot, Scott was hilarious and really put my Mom at ease. She was really nervous at the beginning but by the end of the flight, was ready to go up again! I did not deal with Groupon, because I had more freedom to schedule directly with the company and it only cost me a few dollars more to do so. I would definitely recommend them to my friends and family. Great flight, great memory with my Mom!

Review №60

2021-07-14 01:45:08

I have been around the world and experienced much of what it has to offer but the balloon ride with Scott definitely is on the top of the list. From start to finish every aspect was thought of and all details taken care of. I felt safe and informed the entire time. The ride was fun, informative, and gave me a view of the area like I had never seen it before. As far as adventures in the wine country go I can’t think of a better way to spend a morning.

Review №61

2018-07-25 18:31:58

Best experience! The crew was friendly, fun and professional. Scott, our pilot, was incredible and made the experience that much more fun! Not only is he experienced and skilled at what he does, but he was a joy to be around and talk to. I want to thank Wine Country Balloons for all they did to make this flight as enjoyable as it was.

Review №62

2021-07-23 03:38:41

Our family had a wonderful experience! Scott was a fantastic pilot and really made the flight one to remember. Take-off and landing were flawless with breathtaking views throughout. We highly recommend!

Review №63

2021-07-23 03:49:41

We had a great experience. Scott is an extremely experienced balloonist and made us feel safe the entire time. He is very courteous, professional, and had a story to tell during every part of our trip. I would highly recommend him for a balloon ride in Sonoma!

Review №64

2018-08-20 04:06:35

My wife and I had a good experience here yesterday. It was our first balloon ride. Im glad the weather was perfect. The two packages they offered us is: option 1, $20 dollars cheaper is if they have a bad weather cancellation you can reschedule up to 8 months. Option 2, for $20 more you can get a refund if its a bad weather cancellation before the day of, but the $20 is non refundable.The pilots are professional and they take safety seriously. They said they have never had a crash ever. Our landing was good. I would recommend this company for your balloon ride. The whole staff are nice as far as I see it.It was an overall worthy experience! Michael was our pilot and made us feel safe and answered our questions professionally. :)

Review №65

2021-07-13 19:40:04

Scot Vanderhorst is a safe and experienced hot air balloon pilot. I have flown with Scot at least a dozen times and have had incredible journeys each time. The inflation is always safe, flying isamazing and landings are a soft bump and touchdown. His crew is most helpful and always there on landings. The equipment used is top notch and always safety checked. I have the utmost respect for Wine Country Balloon Tours. I have also flown with Scot several times in the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Review №66

2021-07-11 19:08:43

Scott was the perfect pick for our first balloon ride. His experience of hot air ballooning and knowledge of the area provided us great information and history. Hes quite humorous and kept us all laughing, which kept us all at ease. It was a beautiful day for a balloon ride and the scenery was gorgeous! Thank you Scott.

Review №67

2021-07-15 12:47:20

Had a wonderful time flying with Scott, and Wine Country Balloons. Scott & his team were very professional and accommodating. Had a longer than normal flight, but that was great for us! Everything was very clean & well cared for. Just a beautiful overall Experience. I would absolutely recommend WCB to anyone in the Sanoma county area!

Review №68

2023-08-31 18:30:18

I’m really late in posting this review. We had an amazing experience for my momma’s birthday celebration. Mike was so thoughtful and accommodating, very knowledgeable in sharing experiences and answering all of our endless questions. I would most likely use this same company for future events. Thank you again for everything

Review №69

2022-06-05 04:02:00

This is the first time I have ever written a negative review for anyone and it makes me sad to do it, but our experience was truly terrible. We were charged $1500 and then they cancelled 3 times in a row due to weather, and then wanted to charge us more money to reinstate our flight certificates. The person scheduling, Scott, was super rude and unhelpful. I would recommend against booking with Wine Country Balloons.

Review №70

2019-01-29 19:19:46

We had a wonderful time with out pilot Scott flying over Santa Rosa. He had lots of interesting information about the area we were in as well as the history of hot air ballooning. We spent nearly two hours up in the air and felt very safe the whole time. The champagne toast at the end is a really nice touch and it was a great first experience.

Review №71

2018-11-16 20:52:02

This was my first balloon ride and definitely wont be my last - what a great experience! Our pilot, Scott, was so knowledgeable and entertaining with a lot of trivia and stories tossed in along the way. The ground crew members were so fun and helpful, too. This is a definite must do if youre in the area!

Review №72

2021-07-21 23:22:08

Scott and Christine are awesome. She picked us up and dropped us off right on time. He is an experienced pilot who made our flight safe, fun, and really memorable. If a balloon ride is on your bucket list, Sonoma CA is the place and Wine Country Ballooning is the company to fly with. RG.

Review №73

2021-09-07 21:32:44

The hot air balloon was very smooth, safe and relaxing. The scenery was spectacular. Plus, Scott responded quickly to my last minute reservation and kept me informed. Thank you such a wonderful and therapeutic experience!

Review №74

2021-07-19 20:25:38

We had a beautiful morning overlooking the Healdsburg Valley! Our accomplished pilot, Scott was great and shared many fun facts on hot air balloon history, as we floated along...high above the beautiful vineyards. We enjoyed a champaign toast at the end and breakfast at Kaffe Mocha. From start to finish we had a wonderful time, including our landing in a familys backyard who showed us true hospitality! Thank you, Scott and crew!

Review №75

2021-07-22 23:34:53

While checking items off of my Bucket List, I happened to fly in a hot air balloon with Scott Van Der Horst from Wine Country Balloons. Wow, am I glad that I did!! What a fantastic experience from beginning to end! Everyone was gracious, things happened right on time, and most importantly, the view from the balloon of Sonoma County was beyond belief!! (Things were so spectacular that I might have to add another trip with Wine Country Balloons to my bucket list again!)

Review №76

2021-08-01 16:34:21

If youve ever dreamed of floating in silent beauty, do it! This is a life changing experience!We have chosen Wine Country Balloons for over 30 years now, and Captain Scott is the most expert, safe, professional and fun pilot flying in the wine country. When flying with other pilots, the experiences just don’t compare - whether in Sonoma or other parts of the world. From booking to landing, we felt tenderly cared for; it’s always delightful. We have flown in family groups with other wonderful passengers or just two of us, and it’s all good. Flying with WCB has been a perfect present for birthdays, graduations and honeymoons!Be prepared for an early morning experience; there is nothing like the sunrise over wine Country! (leave your grumps at home!) If you’re travelling from other areas, stay flexible to reschedule if weather conditions aren’t right for hot air ballooning. This company will fly only if it’s safe, and luckily Wine Country generally has spectacular weather! We send our hearts to all affected by fires, but we were so happy that in less than a year after such damage, everything was green again and the skies were perfectly clear.Take a deep breath and enjoy the sublime beauty in the sky!!

Review №77

2018-02-05 19:04:35

It was my first time in a balloon, celebrating my 40th birthday, we were met with great enthusiasm as we arrived at 5:30 in the morning, which is not an easy task in itself! First off from the customer service on the telephone I was sold by what a kind and personable conversation we had, Ben was wonderful!Captain Scott is an amazing and fascinating individual with over 50 years of knowledge flying and operating balloons all over the world! It was an absolutely delightful day with many other wonderful guests as a part of our experience and I couldn’t have been more pleased! Of course following the balloon ride a champagne brunch was absolutely delicious!!!

Review №78

2021-08-10 18:54:15

We first sailed with Wine Country Balloons when I met proprietor Scott van der Hosts in the 80s. I have been on several balloon rides since, and compared to others Ive taken, this is the BEST possible ride. Safe, fun, informative, personable, relaxing, spectacular, AND reasonably priced. A MUST-DO experience.

Review №79

2022-08-01 22:02:22

Had a wonderful trip with Wine Country Balloons, floating over the Russian River area. All the logistics worked out well, and it was fun to come down in a growers back yard and make new friends with him. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and the flight and scenery were excellent.

Review №80

2021-07-16 18:55:07

What a fantastic experience we had with Wine Country Balloons. We flew with Scott and he is a very relaxed and experienced balloon pilot. I would recommend this company to everyone who wants to fly safely and enjoy the real magic of ballooning !

Review №81

2018-11-01 21:03:56

Ignore the negative reviews on here... WORTH EVERY PENNY. The nature of this business is weather, so when conditions are bad, you cant go. Our original date was postponed, but we were able to go up the next morning. What an absolutely fabulous ride!! We took off north of another company, so we got many more miles than the competitor provided. Gorgeous morning, Scott and the crew are awesome. Felt completely safe and enjoyed the gorgeous ride through the valley. Amazing experience. Thanks team!!!

Review №82

2019-03-26 23:52:12

We had an absolutely fabulous time! Scott has a very dry sense of humor which I appreciate. He made the experience very fun for our family but he also obviously knows what hes doing. It was a great family outing and I would highly recommend.

Review №83

2019-01-22 18:38:02

This was my first balloon ride - A great experience! Our pilot, Scott, was so knowledgeable and entertaining. The ground crew members were so fun and helpful, too. A must do if around this area !!

Review №84

2021-07-16 00:59:31

My brother has always wanted fly in a balloon,so I selected Wine Country Balloons for his bucket wish. The views were fabulous Wine Country Balloons is a wonderful safe way to fly.They even let us be part of the experience by letting us help inflate gigantic balloon It was a great first time in a craft like that. I would highly recommend them.

Review №85

2021-07-14 01:08:19

Scott has a remarkable ability as a pilot to become one with the wind, and operate with total precision. He’s also a very personable and knowledgable host. You’ll be happy you went with Wine Country Balloons!

Review №86

2022-09-10 13:39:30

Terrible customer service and responses.Booked an initial flight and it was cancelled due to weather and was told semi last min but that happens. So then proceed to book a make up flight and confirmed date and got stood up by the Company. Tried calling and texting with chief pilot Scott and no responses.Worst part is there are other couples at the pick up spot that have also been stood up multiple times from this company.Do not book with this company.

Review №87

2022-07-01 00:59:54

Trip was fantastic. Would go again in a heartbeat. Every effort was made to ensure that we were prepared, comfortable and had a good time. You cant go wrong with Scott and Wine Country Balloons.

Review №88

2024-06-18 18:49:52

Our family visited Sonoma Wine Country and had a fantastic time with ballooning and limo service from Wine Country Tours and Balloons. The service was outstanding and we had soMuch fun on our ballooning adventure.Thank you Captain Scott for such a fantastic time.

Review №89

2017-07-01 17:50:24

Epic experience! Michael Vargas sure knows how to fly a hot balloon. He kept us informed as we flew over ALL Santa Rosa, up to 2600 ft high. Perfect landing and overall wonderful experience.Will recommend to all my friends to come over and check Wine Country Balloons ride!

Review №90

2018-07-23 10:49:50

Very disappointing experience. We have done hot air balloon rides with other operators in Napa that were much better. Do your research before you book with this company.We ended up driving in a bus for over an hour each way, only to arrive at a field right next to a water treatment facility. There was clearly not enough wind for an enjoyable experience. The balloon went up and we stood almost motionless over the field overlooking waste water for about an hour. The operator then decided to land the balloon early because he wanted to show that he could land in the same place he launched (while the other balloon on the trip kept going and covered much more distance).The worst part was the trip was advertised as taking up to 4 hours but it ended up taking 5.5 hours, making us late for other plans we had. This was due to over 2 hours of round trip driving to the field and then the guests having to sit around while the driver/owner helped the crew pack up all the equipment (at other hot air balloon companies the guests don’t just sit and wait for the gear to be packed up). It ended up being a massive waste of time.

Review №91

2022-04-10 23:23:25

Scott is a wonerful, humorous and experienced balloon pilot. Our trip was enjoyable, relaxing and informative. Good champagne at the end!

Review №92

2021-07-13 17:27:20

Scott is a very experienced and knowledgeable pilot! The flying experience couldn’t have been better, the views were amazing and Scott was eager to answer any questions! Definitely will be back!

Review №93

2022-04-16 04:12:54

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM!! Horrible customer service experience… Never actually got a chance to fly with them since they kept CANCELLING on us! After several months of disputing, I finally got my refund. If you are in a similar experience I highly recommend you all to file a dispute with your credit card company as well as filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Check out their Yelp reviews :P has a better representation of how they run their business…

Review №94

2015-09-20 20:04:29

Flight was great. Scott is a really good guy. After reading reviews on yelp I was nervous but afterwards I agree with the business, I think the majority of bad reviews on yelp are competing businesses. Flights get cancelled for conditions out of their control but they worked with us to reschedule.

Review №95

2022-05-17 03:49:16

Beautiful adventure with a fabulous pilot and crew. Wonderful experience!!

Review №96

2021-07-22 04:38:47

My Husband and I did a private balloon ride, It was a Blast, Michael our Pilot was Awesome! The view was Spectacular! I highly recommend this experience, and Wine Country Balloons, super Fun!

Review №97

2017-07-07 04:31:51

I booked this hot air balloon ride directly. I picked this company because I had heard positive reviews from friends and the flights left from my backyard. The booking process was easy and the difference in refundable and non-refundable tickets was clearly explained.Unfortunately, this hot air balloon ride was not only a disappointment due to weather conditions, but was also plagued with unprofessionalism. While unideal weather conditions are understandable and beyond the companys control, there are several issues I hope will be improved upon, primarily related to communication and operations.First, the weather conditions, which we had been told around 5am via text appeared to be good, were not ideal. The pilots had a backup plan, and told us that we would instead go to a launch site about 45 minutes away. We assumed we would still be in wine country,however, after waiting about an hour in a Starbucks, we were taken to farmland in Lake County. The area below our flight was dry and dead and all we could see were farmlands, hills, and a small flat vineyard. Overall, we had essentially the same view the whole time. It was similar to going up in a much less pricey teathered flight. The views were not as promised. The booking information promised views of Napa and Sonoma, and described the pacific coast, San Francisco, forests, rivers, and lush rolling vineyards.I wish we had been told that where the backup location was and that the plan was to go to Lake County (where numerous wildfires ravaged the landscape last year). Our party would have opted to rebook a different day had we been given the option.However, the largest reason for the one-star review was the general unprofessional nature of the entire experience. When being transported via bus to the new site, our driver was going approximately 20 miles over the speed limit on winding mountain roads. Many passengers suffered ill effects from the journey. The other adult with me threw up.Next, the privatized compartments of 2-5 passengers werenot as expected. Our compartment had 6 people, two parties of 3. Due to the capacity, our group was tightly jammed together by the end of the ride. Our pilot did not stop other passengers in our compartment from playing music that the other groups did not appear to enjoy. In general, our pilot was content to let some groups affect the experiences of other groups.More importantly, the pilot did not notice that my 7-year old was on the flight until we landed. My child said hello to him as we walked into the basket. I was aghast to find that the pilot was unaware of one of eleven passengers. I hate to think what would have happened had there been an emergency.At landing, our pilot landed in a cow field. The owner appeared very upset with our presence. The cows started towards us in what appeared to be a threatening manner, but were redirected by the land owner. I was very concerned, given my knowledge of how individuals in Lake County protect their land. Listening to the conversation between the follow-crew and the pilot, I learned no one attempted to smooth things over with the land owner. The pilot then spoke with the land owner and appeared to minimally appease him. However, it is undisputable that we were trespassing for over an hour and the land owner was unhappy with it. I was, and am, very upset that we landed on someones private property and had to hike over a mile on their land to return to the road. If it were me, I would be very upset with the company for landing a hot air balloon on my gated-property.On the ride back, the floor of the bus was so hot several passengers, including myself, reported searing temperatures. Additionally, part of my party was almost left behind on a bathroom stop despite clearly telling our driver we were going inside and asking him to wait on us.Finally, I was surprised that we were expected to tip the follow crew on top of the charge of the ride, and that the follow crew is unpaid.The worst thing of all is that my 7-year old has soured on all hot air balloons.

Review №98

2022-10-18 01:11:53

So sad to have share spaces with others in a tiny room. otherwise, it is a special experience.

Review №99

2021-05-03 05:46:47

This business is a JOKE and I wish I read all these reviews before giving them a dime of my money.Chief Pilot, Receptionist, Helper and person name on state license was our contact, Steve Van Der Hurst. Our experience speaking with this man was horrible and ruined my 38th birthday.UNPROFESSIONAL- as a resident and consumer in Sonoma County all I expect is that a business provide the service they sold me & if they cannot follow through on their promise or contract then return the money they DIDNT EARN.Scott will call you to confirm your online booking and sells you “great deal”, “its better than Groupon books your trip over the phone and does not tell you that the deal he’s selling is not what’s advertised online and IS NOT REFUNDABLEYou pick your dates (1 backup in case weather is bad) plan childcare, take off work and then texts you at 4:45 AM to cancel due to inclement weather. And won’t refund your money..I Contacted the cell # that texted us and business phone on website to speak to the owner or manager but that person doesnt exist...????Why would a person or owner not want to be involved in their business? It doesn’t make sense to me, but maybe silent partner so I asked for manager or person who can help us resolve today.Scott then said he only answers the phones and cant help resolve any issues with flights already paid for, policy is PrePaid flights are non refundable.I asked Scott why he didn’t disclose or verbally tell us about this parameter when he changed our reservation over the phone to the Prepaid flight, that “great deal that was better than Groupon”.He said it’s on paperwork you signed but I reminded him the only written documentation we filled out as of then was the online booking which was for “ The Reserved flight” which is refundable we hadn’t signed nor seen anything that said non refundable before giving our credit card info... This just made him angry and abruptly end our call.I will be following up with a complaint to the DA and speaking with my personal attorney to ensure this company cannot sell innocent consumers a horrible experience and must follow the law by clearly disclosing all stipulations up front and in writing.************I appreciate the owners response to the review I described based on my own personal experience with Wine Country Balloons on Sunday, May 2nd 2021.Unfortunately this is the only communication we have received from “the owner” as we were unable to reach he or she to discuss what options are available to us, their customer, as we would like to receive the service we paid for “Reserved Flight for 2” or Simply a refund of the funds charged to card given online when selected package named “Reserved Flight”.We do look forward to hearing from the owner directly to reach a common understanding and agreement im which we may resolve this issue as adults.The insults and hurtful comments are unkind, unprofessional and simply not a polite way to treat others.

Review №100

2022-08-13 21:02:27

A fabulous, professional and fun experience from beginning to end. Despite being blown in an unexpected direction where landing options were few and far between, the whole team managed to pull off a perfect landing in unfamiliar territory. Loved it!

Review №101

2018-08-03 19:56:31

Hot air ballooning has been on my bucket list for several years now. My husband, 10 year old daughter, and I finally went. I was alway hesitant to go because of the cost. After going, I realize why the cost is expensive, but it was totally worth it! I didn’t realize how much effort goes into ballooning. I didn’t realize how much the balloons themselves cost and the amount of gas they need to get those balloons in the air. I also didn’t realize how many people you need on a team to make it all happen. We had bad weather the day we went, so the team drove us in a nice shuttle 45 min away for a better spot. Then the crew sets up the ballons and followed us when we landed. They take care of everything and it seems like a lot of work for them. The crew was friendly and also helpful with info of what to do in Sonoma after our ballon trip. The view was really pretty from the sky and the Ballon Captain explained what mountains and lakes we were looking at and gave some history. At the end of our trip we were toasted with champagne. I would go again and I would use this company again. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Review №102

2021-07-13 18:02:26

My hot air balloon ride with Scott was a very nice experience, floating above the Sonoma valley in the cool morning breeze is definitely a good way to start the day. Highly recommend!

Review №103

2017-10-28 17:41:32

Pilot Wim was excellent, professional and performed the marriage ceremony. We had a private wedding flight we will never forget on 10.25.2017. Perfect weather, beautiful countryside flyover. NO sign of fires in this part of Sonoma county. Highly recommend this company.

Review №104

2022-07-12 22:01:14

A beautiful day up up in the air 🎶Our pilot Scott, funny, educational, director ( told us where we are). Totally, will go again! Husband and I are 84-93. A great day! Thank you Scott💕🥂

Review №105

2017-07-26 22:14:24

Great adventure with Wine Country Balloon. It was all that we could of asked for. JEFF our pilot was fun, friendly, very professional and really made our trip one that we will never forget.Thanks for the memories 7/26/17Carlos❤Caroline

Review №106

2022-02-22 00:59:12

We had the most amazing experience in the sky thanks to Wine Country Balloons! Scott was so helpful to work with while planning our flight and Michael was an amazing pilot, so much fun! His calm, confident demeanor made us all feel safe when weather changes made for a rough (but very exciting) landing. Both Scott and Michael were so knowledgeable and kind, making the entire experience one we will cherish forever! The champagne brunch was amazing, giving us time to talk to them one on one, listening to stories and learning more about hot air balloons. Thank you Wine Country Balloons! We had a fabulous and memorable time!!

Review №107

2017-05-23 14:56:35

Absolutely disastrous experience. Met at the Kaffe Mocha at 6:30 AM, waited until 8am and no one showed up. Called the phone, No answer. No courtesy call regarding weather or equipment issues. Woke up at 4am to leave SF to make it here for my girlfriends birthday and would have at least appreciated a courtesy phone call. Literally been speaking to the lady at the Kaffe Mocha trying to figure out what to do and helping me contact Ben/Scott. Terribly ruined our day. Spent almost $400 and looking at the website they wont offer a refund. I feel as if I was scammed. Save your precious time and money and never book with these unprofessional scam artists. If they had given me a courtesy call due to weather conditions or anything if that sort I would not be upset at all. Thanks for robbing me, making us wake up at 4am, drive an hour and a half and ruining my girlfriends birthday.

Review №108

2021-08-30 16:58:24

Scott was hilarious and so knowledgeable and the experience was like nothing else Ive ever done. So peaceful and serene. I have a fear of heights but it was totally not scary! I loved it! Problem is that Im not satisfied.... Now I want to go again and again. Honestly I think this should be on everyones bucket list.

Review №109

2017-08-09 16:16:42

What a disappointment. My vision was that we would float serenely 1,000 or 2,000 feet in the air, drift gently above the beautiful sights of Sonoma County. Not even close. There was virtually no wind and we spent two hours 3-400 ft above Windsor and its uninteresting surrounding landscape, looking down at semi-rural homesteads. They should have forewarned us that with such modest wind the ride would be contained (Im assuming this was a wind problem and not a pilot problem.) The pilot was experienced and good humored but gave zero information regarding what we were seeing or the surrounding points of interest. I live in Santa Rosa and was totally discombobulated, in addition to being bored. It might be fantastic another time but well never bother again.

Review №110

2016-05-24 19:49:22

My wife and I rode with Scott last week and the experience was amazing. Scotts sense of humor is refreshing. If we are ever in the Sonoma area again we will take another ride with these folks.

Review №111

2023-12-10 15:39:59

Amazing Ballooning experience, they are the nicest and most knowledgeable staff. As a local I got to see parts of the county I didnt know existed!

Review №112

2017-01-31 20:45:41

Beware if you are from out of town and book this trip - you WILL NOT GET YOUR MONEY BACK if they cancel due to weather conditions, even multiple times.Let me start off by saying I am a business owner. I have policies and procedures such as no refunds, no returns, etc... BUT how you adhere to your policies is completely your decision on a case by case basis. If one of my customers had a situation where they literally would not be able to use something they paid for due to circumstances out of their control, I would ALWAYS refund my customer, because as a business owner and good person, its the correct thing to do. It is true - we agreed to the terms when she paid and signed. However as a business it is at their discretion whether or not they refund in any circumstance. They are using their policies as a shield to the fact that they are keeping $400 for services we will never be able to receive. Reading the owners responses to the negative reviews, its clear the customer service here is extremely poor and snarky. I only wish I would have read these reviews and responses before deciding on this company. There are many other balloon companies in the area that we could have chosen instead.My friend and I booked a girls weekend to Napa (she booked the air balloon for us, not myself - so dont bother with the defense of This Char C person has never booked a balloon ride with us). We also arranged the Napa Valley Wine Train the same weekend. We received a call the day we arrived to Napa that our air balloon ride in Santa Rosa would be cancelled due to flooding. Ok - so we were lucky enough that we could still move our Wine Train booking around to attend the air balloon a day later than planned. We woke up at 430 AM to get ready for the balloon (1.5 hours from our hotel) and received a call at 5 AM that it would be cancelled again for today due to fog. They stated that we could use it the following day (the day that we had our flights home) - and my friend told him that we cant, because we live many states away and would not be returning. Their response was that we signed the contract stating no refunds and we could come back later. Well - being as we are 2 young working moms, we do not plan to return to the same vacation destination twice... but thanks. After numerous phone calls, numerous emails and conversations explaining our situation that we want our $400 back, my advice is DO NOT book an air balloon ride from here unless you are local, or are the type of person who likes to travel to the same destination twice in 1 year... Or, make sure you pay the crazy (even higher) price so that you can get your money back if the flight is cancelled... mind blowing. They received $400, and we received nothing in return. Sounds like a pretty great deal for them if you ask me, but sucks for us.

Review №113

2022-08-07 23:46:19

Worst experience dealing with a business ever. We drove from bay area, stayed at night in a hotel in napa and they cancelled our booking in the morning at the last minute.Over that they wont issue a refund. They were also very rude when asking for reschedule. Dont waste your money and time. Had to eventually dispute charges with the credit card company.

Review №114

2022-09-30 00:52:00

Please go see yelp reviews. I cant believe Groupon still has this on there. My review explains it all. SINCE I CANT REPLY TO HIS COMMENT, I DECIDED TO EDIT MY REVIEW AND RESPOND THAT WAY. He is a liar and in this comment he says that I received all my money back which I did through my credit card company NOT through him but on my yelp review he says that I didn’t. I know I didn’t get a Groupon but I have Groupon and I keep seeing the voucher for this place. I am glad I did it on my own through my credit card because I received all my money back! These people are rude and make you meet up for no reason. They will ruin your special day if you book with them. Please go to yelp reviews and don’t do the same mistake we did. If you see that a lot of the yelp reviews say the same thing it’s because ITS TRUE!!! They won’t fly and if they do, you’ll have a bad experience. And this guy who replies always waits for a long time until we forget about the review.

Review №115

2017-02-01 19:02:25

We enjoyed a spectacular balloon ride over the wine country on Thanksgiving morning!!! Our pilot, Scott, and the entire team was wonderful and professional! Highly recommend!!!

Review №116

2022-05-01 17:19:55

Scott is 1st class! What a spectacular adventure. A true Sonoma County wine country must have experience. 🙌🏼

Review №117

2021-08-18 19:50:27

We had great time riding the balloon over Sanoma vineyards. Our pilot, Scott, was professional and courteous. This is a must do activity!

Review №118

2022-03-08 05:51:06

What an amazing way to spend your birthday. Great experience I’d do it again.. crew was awesome..

Review №119

2015-10-21 08:42:17

Unfortunately, I did not research this company before spending hundreds of dollars for the flight driving in from out of town and paying for accommodations. My bad. The whole experience has been unprofessional at best, incompetent at worst. Too complicated to detail here. But I DO NOT RECOMMEND doing business with Scot. There are other companies, I am sure, who will deliver a much better user experience. Dig around a bit. Scot will not value your business or hard earned money.Update 9/29/15: Scot continues to contact me, pressuring me to remove my published opinion regarding my experience with his business/him. In a word-for-word quote from one of Scots texts to me yesterday, it was stated that there is a journalist (who he refuses to identify) who has grown tired of people using the internet as a weapon and wants to show certain people what it feels like to be attacked socially. Shes doing quite a job of it!, he said. And, he said, ...and she wants to write a defamatory review on various social media sites describing Barry in the same way you anonymously described our company and me.. He also let me know that, She now asks us if youve taken down your review... If so she would not be inclined to make Barry one of her examples. What should I tell her Meredeth?.What you should tell her Scot, is that using the internet as a weapon for social media terrorism is sketchy business, at best. Condoning it is, as well. Especially when you try to hurt an innocent party (i.e. not the person who published the review). I wrote the review and it is not anonymous, so she can bully me directly, if she wants to give it a shot.For the record, I do agree that anonymous hate reviews are malicious and irresponsible, however, this is the only review I have published about my experience. My name and photo and a link to contact me are all attached to it, so it is not anonymous. And I do not hate Scot. I dont know him well enough to like or hate him. My review is not based on third party conversations or reviews made by other people. It was generated from my own real-time exchange with him directly. I have not put a review, cloaked, anonymous or otherwise, on Yelp or on any other site or directory service I booked and paid for the flight and I am the only person in my party who has published any opinion about this incident. Barry, who was simply my guest, has neither commented nor publicized an opinion about this event anywhere or ever. For the record, I did ask for a refund the day of this debacle and have not pursued it or initiated contact with Scot since.Finally, I stand by my opinion about Scots handling of my business transaction with him and my review will not be removed. Outside legal process wherein all the issues, documentation, text correspondence and voice mails can be evaluated without bias, this is the last public commentary I intend to make about this whole incident or my negative review.

Review №120

2021-07-16 21:08:51

I have flown with Scott and his crew several times. When my mother and Grandmother were visiting from the East Coast we took them up and they both enjoyed it!!!

Review №121

2017-05-14 13:35:38

I received a framed poem from my children that said at the end Balloon ride for you and pops. I was instructed to just call and give the name of the purchaser to redeem Groupons for me and my husband. As luck would have it, numerous problems arose because my daughter failed to give the Groupon # before she left more Mexico. Well Scott went above and beyond to locate 2 Groupons but only found one. I thought I must have misunderstood my daughter, so Ill pay for the second ticket. Just 2 days before, my other daughter heard me talking to my husband about the cost and immediately said OH NO, WE PAID FOR YOU BOTH! She scrambled to find both #s and discovered it WAS NOT SCOTTS FAULT, but the second Groupon had simply MOM for the customer name. So I called Scott and he was so nice; reassured me not to stress at all. Although the Groupon had expired, he reactivated it for a small fee which is to be expected. I appreciate businesses making such an effort and making the customer feel as if they matter. Such a great quality that seems rare these days!

Review №122

2021-12-02 23:25:34

It is not scary at all. We had a lot of fun. The view was fantastic and the pilot Scott was a lot of fun. Enjoyed it a lot!

Review №123

2021-03-29 19:38:52

I was worried about this company at first due to 3.7 review. I am glad I still decided to fly with them. The company was very responsive, the pilot was very professional and we had a really good time!The crew works really hard and is very professional.

Review №124

2022-04-19 08:06:59

**Edited after seeing the response-Besides the fact that your response was totally unprofessional, you also proceed to gaslight literally anyone unhappy with your service. A quick search through your reviews and you can tell that these guys are not receptive to any criticism. There’s no need to be condescending becauseat the end of the day, I’m fine. Though it was annoying to deal with the processes of disputes for a refund, I got my money back. I’m just leaving a review of my experience so that other people don’t go through the same situation. If that upsets you so much, try taking some of that feedback and learning from it.End of update**I wish i could put O stars, but unfortunately thatsnot possible. For 2.5 months, we still were not able to schedule a date. Weve been cancelled on three times because of weather (which is fine if not mere hours before were supposed to arrive). When we asked for earlier notice, scott responded with a generic,obviously copied-and-pasted response basicallysaying no, we only need to notify you an hourbeforehand at most. I didnt need the additionalgas lighting either just because i wanted more of anotice before we got on the road for a 2 hr drive.He went ahead and also marked our vouchers asredeemed before we had even set foot. He isincredibly rude and constantly refers to the contract for simple things that people would do due to ethics, like honestly how hard is it to notify us 12 hrs ahead if youre going to cancel our date.When the renewal day was coming up, and he was trying to scam us out of more money by forcing us to pay a renewal fee. Despite the reason being because of the weather and the constant rescheduling, these guys are firmabout not waiving the fee. I ended up getting my refund back after an annoyingly long dispute period because Scott and Mikael kept trying to fight us on it. This is one of the most ridiculous exchanges Ive had to deal with. DO NOTride with them. They preach about being a localbusiness yet arent understanding of others. (check yelp and youll find some way more horribleexchanges with this company.)Also, IIl be expecting a response from the owner lol. He loves to embellish stories lmao but check yelp i promise you the reviews are much more accurate there. (I’ve attached a few of them below. They literally wouldn’t refund someone whose mom was having health issues-she had cancer…)

Review №125

2021-06-30 22:09:45

Had a great flight. Scott and Mike were very professional and genuinely invested in passengers having a good time.

Review №126

2022-01-01 00:55:55

Had a great experience with Captain Scott - he was a great tour guide to the area in addition to being clearly very experienced and safety focused. Highly recommend!

Review №127

2016-05-20 15:49:52

Great group of guys that run this business. The pilot was friendly and accommodating. Prices are the best that I could find (Groupon) and just had to call them in advance to let them know when I was heading there. Highly recommend them.

Review №128

2017-08-06 18:43:38

Terrible experience with this company. They took us to middle town after making us wait for the 1hr followed by windy road and the scenery was just burnt trees. Not worth it.The owner Scott and his team were totally unprofessional and it was waste $$ and 6hrs of our anniversary day. Avoid these guys

Review №129

2016-10-08 16:31:35

Carefull with this business. They charged us over $400 with no refund, no trip due to weather. Do not recommend to use. Book your flight with any other business. Owner is not professional at all and manage a sketchy business.

Review №130

2022-05-02 17:26:28

It was an awesome experience. We have thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a smooth ride from the take-off to landing. Worth the price. I highly recommend it.

Review №131

2022-10-05 18:19:18

One of the most wonderful adventures of my 81 year life! Very skillful and entertaining pilot.

Review №132

2021-07-16 16:35:13

Very professional and freindly team. The Pilot was fantastic and provided a safe and enjoyable flight.

Review №133

2019-04-12 02:45:58

Awesome experience! Weather was perfect. Thanks Scott

Review №134

2018-08-21 21:42:19

I really wish I could give this person or whoever is behind this no starts at all. Lets start by saying how unprofessional this people are. Talked to them and communicated with them regarding the reservation for the hot air balloon on my bday day. Me and my bf Drove from San Francisco at night to wake up at 5AM and meet them up at 6. It was a real heart break when we waited and waited until 8:30 and they didnt show up call nor they let us know the flight wasnt going to happen or anything at all when just a day before THEY CONFIRMED THE FLIGHT and talked about it.. I was really exited about making it happen on my bday day and we had even mention it was my bday we took the day off and everything to come and find out you guys have no type of compation, sympathy or respect for your customers especially knowing we were here for my bday. Is very messed up for you guys to not even call back and or give us not type of update. On top of everything no refunds or anything for the price you guys are charging I think your customers deserve it. On my 23th bday We could have used the money for something else... UPDATE ABOUT THE COMMNET THE OWNER LEFT: YES WE DID CALLED THE PILOT SEVERAL TIMES FROM 6AM-8AM NO RESPONSE.YOU CALLED US BACK APOLOGIZING SAYIND OUR INFORMATION WAS MISSING SOMEHOW EVEN THOUGH WE HAD CONFIRMED OUR RESERVATION THE PREVIOUS DAY. PLS DONT TRY TO PUT THE FAULT ON THE CUSTOMER. WHEN IT WAS CLEARLY ON YOUR PART

Review №135

2022-08-28 15:41:53

Great Hot Air balloons service, very efficient. Great views of the wine country Vineyard and mountains all around.

Review №136

2021-08-29 02:11:30

Scott and his team are outstanding!! Scott is very nice and friendly, good and professional pilot!!!

Review №137

2022-05-14 15:39:06

These guys are horrible, they love to wake people up people sleeping in their homes at 730 in the morning on SATURDAY. Waking up to what sounds like flamethrowers outside your house is lovely.

Review №138

2022-05-21 16:11:48

Had a absolute blast. Definitely recommend. Scott extremely professional and perfect landing

Review №139

2022-04-04 02:12:06

Scott was a great captain! Loved every minute of it.

Review №140

2021-09-14 00:26:50

Amazing experience. Made everyone feel very comfortable and ride was out of this world!!

Review №141

2019-05-15 19:52:21

We had an AMAZING TIME!!

Review №142

2023-04-25 04:43:23

Great time, Scott was awesome, truly a great experience

Review №143

2022-07-28 05:16:23

Had an amazing time. Pilot was so funny and great.

Review №144

2022-02-24 19:07:51

Incredible experience! Scott was a great guide.

Review №145

2022-11-16 14:09:47

Great pilot! Wonderful views!

Review №146

2019-03-18 17:16:20

Exceptional service and ride. A bit hard to find the start location but not bad.

Review №147

2021-08-28 05:24:27

Awesome experience with Scott and Michael. Highly recommend.

Review №148

2021-07-14 00:01:36

It was a great flight I would do it again

Review №149

2021-07-11 03:20:49

Great experience !highly recommended. A unique and spectacular experience .

Review №150

2016-07-03 13:28:22

We loved it and they did a great job.

Review №151

2019-08-31 01:32:00

If the driver of the white truck is any indication of how this company is ran, beware!

Review №152

2022-08-15 12:18:42

Great experience!

Review №153

2016-10-07 19:25:07

Its a rip off

Review №154

2022-08-12 21:03:07

Great Experience.