7 Things to Know Before You Go on Your First Romantic Hot Air Balloon Ride

Going on a hot air balloon ride with your significant other is probably one experience that is or needs to be on everyone’s romantic travel bucket list. My partner and I were very fortunate to have finally gone on a romantic hot air balloon ride in Gold Coast this week, and there are definitely some things I wish I knew before I went or glad I found out just in time. Here they are to help you make the best of your experience too!

1. 1. 1. 1. Think it would be fantastic? It’s even better than you can imagine – do it NOW if you can
            I’m listing this first because if I had even the slightest idea of what it is really like before going, I would have gone much much sooner. It would have been much higher in my list of romantic travel priorities. Don’t put it off by waiting until you can do it together in Cappadocia Turkey (who doesn’t have that on their romantic travel bucket list – seems like the ultimate romantic hot air ballooning destination right!?) 😛 There are probably plenty of amazing hot air balloon experiences to enjoy near you. Here’s a video of our first romantic hot air balloon ride that we enjoyed near to our home town, in Gold Coast Australia.
      1. Shop around for the best price but know what you are getting
         The hot air balloon company Balloon Aloft Gold Coast that we had the privilege of flying with are offering hot air balloon rides at the fantastic price of only AUD 250 for 30 minutes per person at the moment.  Be mindful though that such cheap prices can also mean that you will be sharing the balloon with many other people.  For that reason, it’s a good idea to pack very light – only bring what you must. We only took our cameras on board with us and left our bags on the tour bus. If you have the money to spend on an ultra luxurious hot air balloon ride, however, some hot air balloon companies offer private balloon rides for couples as part of sensational romantic hot air balloon flight packages.
      2. Let your hair loose!
         Not having flown in a hot air balloon before, I expected I would have to tie up my hair to avoid having it blow in front of my eyes and blocking my view in the wind.  I was surprised to find out that because the balloon actually moves with the wind, there is no wind on board at all. It was recommended to us to wear a hat though as the heat radiating down from the burners that are frequently ignited to make the balloon float, can feel uncomfortable to some. I just wore a regular hat and never had to worry that it would blow overboard – it stayed on my head at all times with no wind pulling it during the entire experience.
      3. The balloon takes off and lands really softly
         While I was focussed on taking some pictures before take-off, I kid you not – I didn’t realise the balloon had already started floating! It was the most smooth take-off and flight we’ve probably ever experienced. I think it will also help you to know this just in case you feel any anxiety about not knowing what it feels like when a hot air balloon takes off.Our landing was super soft too. Just be sure to stay in the brace position while the balloon deflates and until the basket has finished tipping over from the deflating balloon pulling it – it can be quite a jerk but not scary or anything as long as you are holding on, just enjoy the ride!
      4. What to wear
         Casual, comfortable dress is recommended. Don’t wear a dress or skirt – you need to climb into the basket by taking big steps into it. With our hot air balloon, there were some gaps in the basket to put your foot into as you are stepping into the balloon. I looked quite clumsy doing it in pants, don’t even want to think how much you will be flashing if you were to try and do it with a dress on! You will also thank me for letting you know not to wear a dress or skirt when you need to climb out of the balloon basket haha – trust me, don’t do it!  As per the safety instructions, we were also told not to wear a scarf.I wore super comfy ankle boots with a thick, medium heel which was fine for me but it is recommended to wear flat soled shoes that cover your entire foot as some of the terrains that you might be landing in can be unsuitable for heels for example.  There was a lot of cow poop in the area we landed in too – wouldn’t want to spoil a lovely pair of pretty shoes or a romantic moment stepping into that!For the sunrise flight, hubby was wearing a light jacket, jeans and a T-shirt and I was wearing a light sweater with jeans.  It was the really comfortable attire for the July weather here in Brisbane, Australia.
      5. Manage your expectations – Safety First!
         Despite getting up really early in the morning and driving all the way to the inflating hot air balloon waiting for you, you might be given the sad news that you won’t be flying that day after all. Unfortunate, but that is just the reality with hot air ballooning – if the pilot and hot air ballooning team feel it’s not safe to fly that day, you won’t be flying.  Be sure to check what the policy is of the hot air ballooning company you choose to fly with when it comes to cancellations due to unsuitable weather.  When it happened to us, we could decide to reschedule or get a refund. So happy we decided to reschedule because when we finally did fly, it was absolutely worth the wait!You might also expect to fly over a specific area such as a city, but when the wind decides otherwise, you might just fly over another landscape. Don’t worry though – chances are it will be better than you anticipated nonetheless!”
      6. Make the best of the moment together
         With so much beauty to look at, one can understandably go into a snapping frenzy with your camera to try and capture it all. This extraordinary experience goes by so quick, remember to be present in the moment too with your love, to cuddle them and perhaps sneak in a kiss or two as you cross off another incredible bucket list item together!

   If you are uncertain about anything mentioned here, best to check with the hot air balloon company of your choice what their recommendations are for your flight. Have you learnt anything new from this blog post? Let us know in the comments below 🙂

   

   Pin this pic to Pinterest to remind you what you need to know before your first romantic hot air balloon ride.