Back in January, I purchased a hot air balloon ride for me and my boyfriend. It was supposedly semi-private. Mind you-- this was when there were heavy cases of COVID early in the pandemic, when cases were many, and before vaccines were available to the public. This is a big reason why I booked the semi-private ride. The person who I talked to over the phone explained there would be other couples on the ride, but that we would all be reasonably spaced out. I thought, "The more space, the better, we'll have our face masks on, and it's outdoors...okay. Cool." The first time we were booked for February, they had to cancel due to inclement weather. Got it. Totally understandable. I rescheduled for March.
Come March, I was informed to show up as early as 5:00 a.m. which my boyfriend and I did. No one was there, except another couple who said they also received the same instructions. There was no amber beacon outside to which the instructions told us to all gather and meet as it was dark and still night. As it was getting closer to 5:45, the office calls us back and tells us to drive towards the front where the entrance is, and low and behold-- the amber beacon and ride signs that weren't there, are NOW there, and my boyfriend and I figure, "Ok. Not cool that the amber beacon wasn't on and lit upon our arrival, but whatever. Nbd. There are no actual lines, just a blob of spaced out people, so I go to the closest thing that looks like a line to check in.
NO ONE TOLD US that during the day of the hot air balloon ride, that we would be placed in 2 groups... and the WAIT TIME if you're in the 2nd group!!! My boyfriend and I -- put in the 2nd group. We didn't go to our boarding site until 2 HOURS LATER after checking in.
When driving in the van to the site, 2 other couples are already agitated and angry as well: one couple mad about additional hotel fees because of their now late check out, the other couple upset that they were going to get to a family gathering super late because of the long drive that followed the balloon ride.
We get to the hot air balloon site, and it sure as hell DOES NOT LOOK reasonably spaced. It's literally a basket STUFFED with 7 people, minus my boyfriend and I because we were shocked and already pissed off having been there since 5:00 a.m. to board on at 8:00 a.m., and not at all feel comfortable of the view of overcrowded people on the "semi-private" hot air balloon ride.
I talk to the van driver Miriam asking her if my boyfriend and I can just get a refund because there was no way in hell we were going to get in the overcrowded, ZERO-SPACED basket. Miriam said to talk to the manager Janet.
HERE ARE MY ISSUES WITH JANET:
* Upon speaking with her, she did not agree with ANY of the problematic factors that had occurred during that morning: the amber beacon that wasn't on OR lit as it was mentioned it would be upon first arriving, the disorganization with the lines or the fact that there were no check-in lines when checking in-- just a spaced out crowd. THE ZERO COMMUNICATION in being placed in 2 groups and THE ADDITIONAL WAIT TIME of having to wait for the OTHER group to get back.
* The fact that she was EXTREMELY RUDE. I told her about the other couples in the van ride who were just as upset, and then she asks me as to how come those couples weren't complaining to her and what were their names?? How should I know?! We were all venting to the driver Miriam about how upset and frustrated we were with the whole process and experience (YOU CAN ASK MIRIAM)
Those other couples sure as hell weren't as angry as me or my boyfriend were, but I know if I'm not happy with something, best believe I'm going to do something about it-- hence me reaching out for the refund when this happened, and yes, hence this Yelp review.
* Janet said she would not be able to give us our refund because the owner would have to do that to which Janet ALSO disclosed-- the owner's spouse had died which made the owner
indisposed at that time. With the greatest respect-- my sincere condolences to the owner and her spouse, but that has NOTHING to do with me. Also, isn't it Janet's job-- TO MANAGE while the owner is indisposed??
THANK GOD I booked this activity through Groupon, because I eventually got my refund. Overall, this was a horrible experience: Extremely unorganized,TERRIBLE communication, UNPROFESSIONAL, and horribly inaccurate instructions on email for day-of event:"amber beacon" with "balloon rides" sign were not on or present upon arrival and were only visible once it was closer to 6:00 that morning.
I'm typically a very positive reviewer on Yelp. I only ever give positive reviews on businesses and services on here. You can even check my page. But I'm not going to set any other paying customer up for failure and especially with an experience that affected me so negatively. I hope this helps readers deciding know what they're about to get themselves into. read more