Downwind Sails
Downwind Sails
4.5
Parasailing & ParaglidingBoat ToursWaterskiing & JetskiingStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
471 reviews
Excellent
371
Very good
51
Average
17
Poor
16
Terrible
16
chelle9093
2 contributions
Jun 2021
I went parasailing with my family of 6. Reservations were made at opening on the same day that we we and they were very accommodating to the number in our party and time. Upon arrival, the ladies checking us in were GREAT! Next step was to get fitted for the life jackets. The girls there was super sweet! Ethan drove us on the banana boat and made it fun! The guys pushing the banana boat out and in made extra effort in getting me off and on the banana boat. Our favorite interaction was with both Donnie and Charlie on the boat. They were funny and entertaining, while still being professional. They made us feel so comfortable with our experience. We purchased the picture package that turned out really well. We even used it to get a pic with our favorite captain and mate! I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for some good, safe fun!
Written June 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beachfest 2021
1 contribution
Jun 2021
Showed up and the checked in then went to the beach where the young girls maybe 16 or 17 seemed to have some egos. did not fit the life jackets correctly, were rude telling us to move here and move there...and saying we are gonna split your group up. We had a group of 13 so we had already divided ourselves into 6, 4, and 3 since they can only take 6 at a time. They tried to insist splitting us up even more even though we had paid 30 dollars for pictures for each of our groups (over 1000.00). Needless to say we refused. Getting on and off the bannana boat to go out to the parasail was a hot mess.Girls seemed to not quite have it down or understand not all of us are not agile teens that can jumpon in waist deep water as the were screamoing GO GO GO at us. But once we got to the parasail itself they were fantastic and professional. Parasail Endeavor was exceptional! Overall I would definitely do this again. I would rate it a 5 if not for the beach crew.
Written June 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cori
Allentown, PA1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
This was a great activity to do with our teens. You essentially get three activities in one. First we boarded the banana boat to be taken to where we will parasail. We were loaded on to the boat and strapped in for our adventure. My husband and I were first. The teens remained on the boat and got a boat ride while we sailed. Then we were brought in and the teens went up and sailed and we rode in the boat. It was a 30 minute adventure and we all really enjoyed it. Our belongings were safely kept with the check in stand. It was very nice to use Venmo to tip the staff. I highly recommend parasailing with Downwind Sails and please tip them. They were all so polite and accommodating and made it a great adventure! I would do this again next year.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valynda G
93 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
The Banana Boat Ride was an excursion we were anticipating on our Myrtle Beach vacation. I called 3 times. First because the # listed was for another location, second to confirm pricing, and 3rd for directions. I was quoted $75 for 3 people as the price is $25 per individual (ame as online). We walked a half an hour in the hot Carolina Sun and upon arrival were told the price would be $80 and some change due to tax. Luckily, we brought exactly $80. However, the older lady (who was also the person I spoke to on the phone) was very hesitant about letting us by with the change (.26). I was appalled by that and even more so the vibe we felt towards our hue. Then there was an unfriendly older man who kept telling (only me) not to pannick if I see a shark right before it was our turn.
With that being said, the Banana Boat Ride was exciting, scary, and strenuous because you're holding on for dear life. The ride was a bit rough and the salt water was somewhat unbearable, making it hard to see the beautiful ocean and surroundings. I fell into the boat but our guide was alert, noticed right away, and stopped so I could adjust. Back on shore the young lady issuing the vests allowed us time to take pics in/on Banana Boat as our phone was checked due to water..
We all enjoyed the experience but but it would have been better with goggles and friendly and understanding customer service.
With that being said, the Banana Boat Ride was exciting, scary, and strenuous because you're holding on for dear life. The ride was a bit rough and the salt water was somewhat unbearable, making it hard to see the beautiful ocean and surroundings. I fell into the boat but our guide was alert, noticed right away, and stopped so I could adjust. Back on shore the young lady issuing the vests allowed us time to take pics in/on Banana Boat as our phone was checked due to water..
We all enjoyed the experience but but it would have been better with goggles and friendly and understanding customer service.
Written August 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ada
Dallas, TX2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Best part of the trip. So much fun and I felt very safe. The price is very affordable and I fell you get 3 experiences for the price of one....you get on a banana boat which was so much fun, then on to the sail boat which is so relaxing, then the parasailing.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave
5 contributions
Jul 2021 • Solo
Cool thing to do but too short - 13 minutes in the air. They weren’t busy as it was 9:00 am and I went solo with just two other people on the boat. $105 for a 13 minute sail and 2 dozen pictures is too pricy. Unless they put you higher in the air and extend the time you are in the air, I would not do it again. They were the only provider on the beach for this so they reap the benefit of that.
Written July 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
acr8tz
Cleveland, OH16 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Waited in line for about 45 min and that’s how long it took for 2 boats to get back. When it was our turn they put us on the banana boat with another family (no biggie) and our trip was about 5 min long. We never would have paid $80 for a 5 min trip had we known. I think the line was getting long so they started making the rides short. When I told the lady at the counter she said we should have gone a couple of miles out. I guess we went 1 Mile out. Told her that $80
for 5 min is a rip off and she kindly smiled at me.
I do NOT recommend.
for 5 min is a rip off and she kindly smiled at me.
I do NOT recommend.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N D
Norwalk, CT6 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
My husband and teen son wanted to try parasailing for the first time. This biz came up recommended on Trip Advisor so I booked it. From friendly check-in and safety checks, to the fun of the parasail— we definitely recommend. Banana boat ride out to open water is a fun experience on its own- but it’s just the start! Parasail was easy to start/fly/stop and everything was very safe. Out for a total of about an hour, and the parasail ride was at least 10 minutes. Ended with a drink at the Tiki Bar next to Damon’s… Highly recommend Downwind Sails and will definitely be back.
Written July 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ckarschn
Rochester Hils, Michigan36 contributions
Jun 2022
My husband, two sons (ages 7 and 9) and myself took a banana boat ride at 10 am on 6/23 at the south location. Our guide was great (cannot remember his name unfortunately-Josh?). It was just us four on the boat so we did not have to share a ride with strangers, which was a huge plus. He also let us choose the direction-bumby vs smoothe. He kept an eye on us as he drove and we felt completely safe while having a blast. We all had a great time. All of the staff we encountered were kind, professional and efficient. Thanks everyone for this fun ride and smoothe experience!!
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PickyTraveler714
89 contributions
Jul 2023
I wanted to book an introductory sailing lesson for myself and my daughter on our annual family vacation. Online Downwind Sails indicates that you can book a sailing lesson online, but when I tried several weeks, I just got an error message saying I had to call to book a lesson.
So I called. I was then told that I needed to call back the week of our vacation so that they could check the weather and make sure it was suitable for sailing. (Btw, the one previous time I have ever done a sailing lesson, I was able to book it online in advance, it was simply contingent upon the weather holding up).
So anyway, the week of our vacation I called again, with high hopes because the weather reports looked good. Then I was told that they didn't actually reserve times, it was just first come first served.
So, the evening before our intended sailing lesson, I emailed them to say we'd be by the next day. The MORNING OF our hoped-for lesson I got an email back saying that their instructor was gone for the weekend. This was the first indication I had in any of these multiple contact attempts that they had only one instructor and that everything depended on that one person's availability that weekend.
Fortunately I had built some flexibility into our vacation plans so I had a fallback date available a few days later. I wrote them back, asking if their instructor would be available on that day.
No response through the end of our vacation.
Thanks a lot, Downwind. Thanks to your unprofessionalism, your self-contradictory messages, your misleading advertising online, and other lack of responsiveness, my daughter missed out on an experience I'd hoped to give her. If I'd known what kind of operation this was, I would have made other arrangements for those days of our vacation.
So I called. I was then told that I needed to call back the week of our vacation so that they could check the weather and make sure it was suitable for sailing. (Btw, the one previous time I have ever done a sailing lesson, I was able to book it online in advance, it was simply contingent upon the weather holding up).
So anyway, the week of our vacation I called again, with high hopes because the weather reports looked good. Then I was told that they didn't actually reserve times, it was just first come first served.
So, the evening before our intended sailing lesson, I emailed them to say we'd be by the next day. The MORNING OF our hoped-for lesson I got an email back saying that their instructor was gone for the weekend. This was the first indication I had in any of these multiple contact attempts that they had only one instructor and that everything depended on that one person's availability that weekend.
Fortunately I had built some flexibility into our vacation plans so I had a fallback date available a few days later. I wrote them back, asking if their instructor would be available on that day.
No response through the end of our vacation.
Thanks a lot, Downwind. Thanks to your unprofessionalism, your self-contradictory messages, your misleading advertising online, and other lack of responsiveness, my daughter missed out on an experience I'd hoped to give her. If I'd known what kind of operation this was, I would have made other arrangements for those days of our vacation.
Written July 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If our reservation for parasailing is for 9am, what time will be back to the shore?,
Written August 12, 2019
Don't do business with this company, scumbag company
Written May 25, 2020
Has anyone done the stand up paddle board here? It’s in the ocean, right? How difficult is it...we have a few teens with us who are interested in trying but do not have experience.
Written July 9, 2019
I haven't done it but yea it's in the ocean, I did the jet skis there it was awesome.
Written July 9, 2019
Due to weather being iffy can you book the 1 day in advance?
Written June 10, 2019
Yes, you can book it in advance or on the same day. They are very accommodating and friendly. There are two sites you can go to. I reserve my reservation at the wrong place, and they just made one phone and got my reservation switch.
Written June 10, 2019
geeweathers
Louisville, Kentucky
Is there a weight limit on the 3 person parasailing? Would we be able to do ride 2 adults and 1 child? Can you send me a price list for parasailing and also jet ski rental?
Written June 21, 2018
I want to do this with my fiance and 6 year old but how does the process work? I'm scared of drowning, lol..
Written May 7, 2018
I cant swim and I did the parasail and banana boat. I don't think there is a big risk of drowning lol. You have a life jacket on the entire time and are never in water that's over your head.
Written May 11, 2018
Is there a age limit. I have a 5 yr old grandson who would love to do this...
Written March 12, 2017
Hi there! There is no age requirement but there is a height requirement. All riders must be 42 inches tall to ride on any activity.
Written March 13, 2017
For myself and my daughter tax and it was $113.. It's $49 per person. I didn't know about the coupon either until afterwards It's well worth it
Written August 19, 2016
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