Monticello Country Ballooning
Monticello Country Ballooning
Monticello Country Ballooning
5
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full view
About
Central Virginia's premier hot air ballooning company offering daily sunrise and sunset flights with an all-inclusive flight package.
Similar Experiences
Monticello Country Ballooning
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
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.
Popular mentions
5.0
164 reviews
Excellent
161
Very good
0
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
2
teritot
Positano, Italy6 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
After wanting to do this all my life, I can finally scratch it off my bucket list. Mandy was great with communicating about the weather and made sure everything was special. My husband is afraid of heights but had no problem on the balloon ride. He also thought it would be too cold to go in January but with a couple of layers of clothing and the hot air, we were actually comfortable. We had the time of our lives. Our chaser took the perfect pictures. Going up and seeing the amazing sunrise and beautiful views from up above. It was smoother than being on an elevator. Lol
If you plan this adventure, be sure to have several dates in mind just incase you have to reschedule do to bad weather. We drove two hours and stayed overnight at a nearby hotel so that we were well rested for the sunrise balloon ride the next morning.
If you plan this adventure, be sure to have several dates in mind just incase you have to reschedule do to bad weather. We drove two hours and stayed overnight at a nearby hotel so that we were well rested for the sunrise balloon ride the next morning.
Written February 3, 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.
JP OC
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Couples
I have to give a big THANK YOU to Mandy at Monticello Country Ballooning for being instrumental in getting engaged to the love of my life. Throughout the entire process Mandy was extremely helpful and accommodating. Ultimately, when the time came to fly at 0630, Mother Nature had other plans and the flight was scrapped. With my girlfriend at the time — now fiancée — pretty bummed out that we didn’t get to fly, Mandy generously gifted us a bottle of champagne and OJ and directed us to a nice area where could sit and watch the sun come up over the mountains and whispered to me “good luck”. Mandy’s generosity, professionalism, dedication to safety-first, and incredible kindness will be remembered forever. I give this place my strongest endorsement and will certainly be making a trip back to ride with Monticello Country Ballooning.
Written September 9, 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.
Elizabeth C
Galloway, NJ6 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We had an amazing experience with Mandy on our sunrise hot air balloon flight. The views were spectacular and breathtaking. Mandy was very communicative and updated us on the weather conditions leading up to the scheduled flight and was honest about the possibility of cancellation due to weather. She was very informative during the flight and answered all of our curious questions. She also had a sense of humor and made the experience so much fun! Marty was our chase crew and was also very helpful when we landed and had to pack up the balloon, which was hands on for us and interesting to be a part of the process. We ended with a traditional champagne toast. I would highly recommend this for a special occasion, a bucket list adventure, or just to try something different and exciting!!!
Written July 31, 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.
Deidra H
7 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We had an amazing experience flying with Mandy. This was our first time in a hot air balloon and I can’t imagine how it could have been better. Mandy regularly communicated about the weather leading up to the flight. She picked us up in Charlottesville, taking away the challenge of finding the location. The weather was beautiful and the takeoff and landing were very smooth. Bob took lots of pictures, which they shared with each of us. The views were incredible and want to do it again in the fall! Would gladly choose Mandy again as our pilot and guide.
Written July 26, 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.
Jan M
Auburn, AL54 contributions
Sep 2020
If this is something on your list of things to do and you're anywhere near hesitation, drop all your other plans AND DO THIS! Afraid of heights? Do it. A little on the expensive side? Save elsewhere and do this. The countryside that you fly over is absolutely beautiful, and the quiet and mist/fog over the trees and water first thing in the morning is just the most peaceful thing you've ever experienced. Mandy is trustworthy, excellent in communication and offers service right to your doorstep. Follow their insta account to see just how beautiful the flights are. You also get to participate in the blowing up and deflation of the balloon. From start to finish it's an experience of a lifetime!!
Written October 6, 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.
Jenna B
1 contribution
Feb 2021
I can't say enough good things about Mandy and Marty at Monticello Country Ballooning. I emailed Mandy before booking the flight and had a lot of questions about the flight and COVID precautions. She answered them fully and got back to me very quickly. Not only did she answer my questions about the experience, but offered other advice about the area, which was great! Right up to the meet time the morning of our flight, she kept me in the loop. They are very professional and it is very obvious how passionate Mandy is about ballooning. They are both extremely knowledgeable and explained all of the components of the ride, which my husband and I really enjoyed. The take off and landing were very smooth, it was incredible, showed their expertise! During the entire experience Mandy ensured we were comfortable and she was so upbeat, which is refreshing to be around. No corners are cut and safety is a top priority of theirs. You will not be disappointed if you book a flight with them!
Written March 4, 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.
Leia H
Laurel, MD6 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Mandy is wonderful! Very experienced. Talked us through everything. Made sure we were safe above all else. There is alot the goes into planning so patience is a must. No one can control the weather. If you are willing to go with the flow (literally you have no choice when the wind blows) you will have a great time! We will be back again!
Written August 17, 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.
BobFromVA
Virginia58 contributions
Jun 2020
I've known Mandy for years and kept hearing about how much she loves ballooning. Finally I took a flight to see for myself, and it was all she said it was. I had some questions about what to wear, what to expect, etc, and found answers to all that and more on their website.
I have a little bit of unease with heights but it was a smooth and gentle ride all the way, so no problems for me. Safety is #1, so you're not going to be flying in dicey conditions, which also means your flight is guaranteed to have great views! Being a Cville native and a balloon pilot for over 20 years, Mandy knows all the sights. From booking to flight day and beyond with pictures from our flight it was a great experience all the way. And of course there is the included traditional champagne/mimosa/OJ (your choice) toast post-flight to relive the flight.
Highly recommended!
I have a little bit of unease with heights but it was a smooth and gentle ride all the way, so no problems for me. Safety is #1, so you're not going to be flying in dicey conditions, which also means your flight is guaranteed to have great views! Being a Cville native and a balloon pilot for over 20 years, Mandy knows all the sights. From booking to flight day and beyond with pictures from our flight it was a great experience all the way. And of course there is the included traditional champagne/mimosa/OJ (your choice) toast post-flight to relive the flight.
Highly recommended!
Written July 22, 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.
DCSea C
1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Couples
Disappointed... Mandy canceled the flight on the date of reservation which happened to be our 3 year anniversary. The reason, too hot and breezy winds. Local weather was 70 degrees with winds at 8mph. On the ground leaves on the trees were not even moving. Funny how the 1 star review they already recived matched the reason she gave us in email. Don't waste your time and book with another location. I'm sure Mandy will respond to this blaming the weather or the wind shear, copy and paste responses work like that.
Written June 18, 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.
Kimberly, that was nasty, unnecessary and unappreciated. I made my
decision based on your safety, not my pocketbook. I contacted you early (several days in advance)
to give you as much notice as possible, and you even acknowledged that and
said you understood and thanked me for the updates. You inaccurately
represented conditions that you previously acknowledged. Winds were still 8mph and the temperature was still 86 at sunset (which mentioned in one of your emails). In all my years of doing this, I have never had someone be so malicious. I understand you are inconvenienced, and disappointed, but to take aim at
my livelihood when I was losing a tremendous amount of income in order to keep you safe, and to provide a quality experience, is just shocking, to be perfectly honest. I really wish you had actually thought this through and slept on it, before striking out with such an emotional, and intentionally misleading and inaccurate, response.
Written June 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie R
Boston, MA13 contributions
Jul 2020
This was my first time flying in a hot air balloon, and I had no idea what I was in for. I'm thrilled to say that Mandy curated an experience that wildly exceeded my expectations! A local to the area, she owns the company and has been a pilot for 23 years. The flight itself was absolutely breathtaking. I was definitely nervous to go up, but once we got up there, Mandy's obvious experience coupled with the incredible panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley immediately erased my fears. I've never experienced anything quite like it, and I'd jump at the chance to go again. We finished our flight with some delicious mimosas and a great conversation with Mandy and Bob. Thank you so much for this incredible experience. One a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 20! Will definitely recommend to any friends traveling in the area.
Written July 6, 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.
Katherine Ganuza
Fredericksburg, Virginia
How much per person, what age is the minimum
Written June 26, 2021
I'll be vacationing in the area in June and have always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon. I'm by myself though, when I book will I be put with other people for the flight? I like the idea of experiencing this with other people. ty
Written February 15, 2019
Hello Kim! Thank you for your interest in our hot air balloon flights. Yes, we do put singles with another group as we require a minimum of two passengers to cover our operating expenses. Historically speaking, June is usually a very good month to fly. Let us know if you have any other questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Written February 15, 2019
Hi Crystal. Thank you for your interest in our hot air balloon flights. The prices range from $225 per person up to $275 per person, depending on date and time. Our website is very comprehensive and you can check our schedule and sign up online if you are interested. Thanks!
Written June 8, 2018
Thank you for your interest in our hot air balloon flights. We can take pilot and up to five adults in our basket. Thank you!
Written October 22, 2017
I purchased a gift certificate for my mother and she never got to use it. Your phone number doesnt work. How is she supposed to schedule it? Are all your reviews posted here fake to take peoples money?
Written March 9, 2016
We are out of the country on vacation. Our phone and laptop were stolen so I had the phone disconnected yesterday until we return Sunday. Please email us through our website. (TA does not allow us to post emails or URLs in responses). We start flying again as soon as we return but are making every effort to check emails once daily to continue scheduling. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Written March 10, 2016
Have you openings for Sunday, March 27, Easter sunrise for three?
Written February 17, 2016
Hello and thank-you for your interest in our hot air balloon flights. Yes, at this point in time we still have space Sunday morning March 27. Please contact us directly through out website or on our cell at 434.996.9008 as I am just now seeing requests through TripAdvisor that we were unaware of. Thanks so much and we look forward to hearing from you! Mandy
Written February 17, 2016
Hello everyone,
I am having trouble getting into contact with this provider. What is the best way to reach them?
Written November 23, 2015
Hmm. I see that this is 2 months old, that is very frustrating for us on this end as well as this is the first time we have seen it. Unless you have contacted us directly through the website or our business number, 434.996.9008, we have not received any contact from you. I hope you have not been on your trip to our area yet! Please feel free to touch base with me directly on the number above where you will find our response time to be very quick. Thank you! Mandy
Written February 17, 2016
Hi Khillary. Yes, and no :). We would need to discuss in person to go over the details with you. I can be reached at 434.996.9008. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you! Mandy
Written November 11, 2015
Hi all,
About how long does the entire experience last form pick up to drop off? Also, how long are you in the balloon for?
Written November 10, 2015
Hi Chris. We tell our passengers to plan on spending 2 1/2-3 hours with us for the whole experience. Flight time is approximately an hour, give or take a few minutes depending on conditions and landing options.
Written November 10, 2015
Hi and thank-you for your interest in our hot air balloon flights. The cost is $225/person for a sunrise flight and $250/person for a sunset flight. There is no tax and that is an all-inclusive rate with our company featuring local transportation, digital photographs AND a traditional champagne toast. For more detailed information, please visit our new and comprehensive website by Googling Monticello Country Ballooning or clicking on weblink on TripAdvisor. We look forward to hearing from you! Mandy
Written May 21, 2015
Showing results 1-10 of 10
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.