The team was absolutely amazing by explaining what we would encounter. Ensuring we felt comfortable and knew the safety rules. The pilot (Mandy) pointed out key local features. Victoria on the ground crew was engaging and took excellent photos and videos. Your experience was obviously their focus right after safety. The kewlest part was landing, but I suggest you experience that for yourself read more

Monticello Country Ballooning - Taking off Donna, our pilot an I - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Absolutely unforgettable experience! My friend surprised me with a hot air balloon ride for my birthday, and I honestly could not have asked for a better adventure. From start to finish, Monticello Country Ballooning was absolutely thrilling. We had perfect weather, stunning views, and an incredible crew. Mandy, Chris, and Holly were amazing--professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun to be around. They made the entire experience feel exciting, safe, and special, which made the surprise even more memorable. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure. If you're even thinking about it--do it. You won't regret it. read more

This. Was. AMAZING. I've had hot air ballooning on my bucket list for quite some time, and I honestly didn't know if I'd enjoy it or be terrified the entire time. Perhaps it was a little of both - lol - but once I got a sense for how things worked, I really, really enjoyed it. There are a LOT of weather factors that have to align in order for the flight to happen, and I got super lucky in that regard and was able to do my flight. So, if you're interested in flying - you can reserve a spot in the online calendar. The morning flights are less expensive and longer because of the amount of fuel needed and the temperatures. I thought it would be pretty cold, but it's actually not too bad when you're in the basket - there's a bit of a warm pocket from all the fire. Mandy kept in touch via email to let us know what the weather conditions looked like. You don't have to pay ahead of time - just reserve the spot. Apparently it's very common to have cancelations form the weather, so she does not ask you to pay up front. My flight was shared with the pilot and four other people. We fit comfortably in the basket, and it was sturdier than I'd expected! I felt secure and safe the entire time. The views from the balloon were simply breath-taking - with all the fall colors and the beautiful morning, it was an amazing, spiritual experience! I loved it and I'll probably try to do it again sometime. Highly recommend this if you're in the Charlottesville area and looking for a unique experience! read more

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Wonderful experience for our group of four. It is the second time in ten years that we have flown with Mandy and her experienced and safety conscious crew. Fun, joyful, peaceful! They end the flight after landing with a Champagne toast for passengers. Greatly recommend them!!!! read more

What a dream!! My husband was 100% in and I was not but the focus on safety by the team was what cooled my nerves and the energy in our group. The views were breathtaking and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to experience beauty from a different perspective! read more

Monticello Country Ballooning - Hot air balloon ride - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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What a great experience, totally worth it! This crew had great energy and they had fun while doing it safely and efficiently. Our wives were all scared but after the first few minutes everyone relaxed and enjoyed it. Really cool, unique experience. Dave, our pilot had us do some proximity flying over the river which was a high point for me. Thanks guys! read more

The hot air balloon ride with Monticello Country Ballooning was incredible, and the crew was amazing. I don't enjoy heights but I did enjoy this slow and gentle ride over the beautiful scenery of Charlottesville VA. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel and helped with the balloon set up in a meadow at sunrise. The ride was so beautiful I couldn't help looking down. We landed on a soccer field and enjoyed a celebratory mimosa toast, then helped the crew pack up. I would recommend this company to anyone, they educated us about how everything worked and were very safety conscious. Can't wait to go up again! read more

Mandy is so amazing Thank you for squeezing me in last second! This was the best experience in Charlottesville read more

What a fantastic experience Mandy provided for us! From our first email communication through our post-flight toast Mandy could not have been more professional. She was genuinely happy to take us on our 1st-ever ride, answering our questions while keeping everyone safe. She and her crew made us feel at ease and the entire trip was extraordinary. I would recommend this without hesitation! read more

Monticello Country Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We took our first hot air balloon ride with Mandy and Kyle this Saturday. Everything about this experience was perfect ! Mandy and Kyle were both so personable and professional ! The flight was beautiful and the landing was so smooth ! I highly recommend this company for anyone looking for a fun adventure ! Thx again Mandy and Kyle read more

To anyone considering a flight with Mandy, don't hesitate! My daughter and I flew on an April morning and it was so so beautiful and serene. Very interesting to slowly take in floral, fauna (3 deer swimming across the Rivanna river), and the topography of this gorgeous part of the world. Mandy is the consummate pilot, both informative and fun. read more

What a wonderful experience from reservation to Champaign celebration! The flight itself was amazing; the weather perfect! Mandy, owner and our pilot, is a true professional, combining communication skills regarding safety with FUN! Our ground crew, Kyle, added to both our feeling of security and the fun. Exhilarating trip!!! read more

One of the best experiences my family and I have ever had! Mandy is so friendly, knowledgeable, and just all around fantastic. She's an intelligent pilot and will happily answer any questions you have. The whole experience from setting up the balloon, to the ride, taking the balloon down, then the champagne toast at the end is perfect and there aren't any hidden fees or "packages" you have to choose from. So many opportunities to take your own pictures and her "chaser" takes pics of you as well which are sent to you within the next day along with your flight path! Would highly recommend and can't wait until my next balloon ride with her! read more

My first time in a Hot Air Balloon - and Mandy was a wonderful pilot & operator. Very professional, and a lot of fun. The Balloon was her own beautiful design, and her passion for flying was shared with everyone aboard! read more

My wife and I flew with pilot/owner Mandy at sunrise on July 15th, 2016 in her new balloon. She and her crew showed up at the front door of our B&B (Inn at Westwood Farm) right on time, evaluated the winds and set up for a smooth launch and wonderful flight. As a fellow pilot, I would have to say she was outstanding and professional in every way. Her experience and safety consciousness are second to none. Grabbing some tree leaves along the way gave new meaning to "nap of the earth" flying. Kyle, her chaser, was also exceptional by tracking us along the way, taking great pics, and treating the property owner at the landing field with respect after our smooth touch-down. Just a superb experience in every way! read more

Monticello Country Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Mandy was fantastic, very friendly and knowledgeable - a pleasure to fly with! We went during peak leaf season and the views were extraordinary! We were up at least 45 minutes to an hour. We went up to about 1500 feet, traveled about 10 miles. It was quiet and peaceful, just floating - nothing scary or worrisome at all! They take off with the other companies in the area (Blue Ridge Balloon, Boar's Head and Bonaire) so you can see the other balloons during your trip - really adds to the amazing experience. Mimosas were the champagne toast after our morning flight. :-) They also provide a CD of pictures from your flight. Would highly recommend both this company and this trip! read more

I would just like to echo what the other reviewers have said. Mandy is phenomenal and really goes the extra mile to care for you as the customer! Like John, I wanted to plan a surprise hot air balloon ride and proposal for my girlfriend. Mandy was very responsive in getting back to me and helping me plan the details, and giving good suggestions about what days are typically less busy. I really appreciated her transparency in letting me know when other days are booked or if another couple was planning on flying the same morning so that we could adjust if needed. That's the type of service that you can really only get when you're speaking directly with the pilot and owner! For the flight itself, we met at the Boars Head Inn and rode to the launch site close by. Mandy and her chaser for the morning, Kyle, were incredibly charismatic and enjoyable to get to know. They answered all our questions and were able to calm some of my girlfriends nerves at the surprise hot air balloon ride. Both of them are very fun and professional people that make you feel like you're an old friend they haven't seen in years. The flight was flawless from takeoff to landing, and Kyle took pictures of us during setup and from the ground. It was just the three of us in the basket, and the views were spectacular. When the time came for my proposal, Mandy was great at taking a subtle hint from me and prepping the balloon so I could talk uninterrupted for a while during the proposal. She also took pictures of the act itself, and gave us the best engagement photo we could ask for! I can't speak for the other hot air balloon companies in the area, but I guarantee that you will not be disappointed if you go with Mandy. Her 17 years of experience and job as an RN should be enough to set you at ease for the flight while their personalities will make sure that it's an experience you will never forget! read more

The first thing I will say is that Mandy is the friendliest, most honest and intelligent pilot (and person in general) you could ever hope to meet. That was great since I wanted to take my girlfriend (now fiancee) for a private sunset ride on Valentine's Day. It was just the two of us and Mandy, who really let us focus on each other. I had given her a tip that I planned to propose, and without any specific instructions, she was smart enough to take us up to 2,000 feet (relatively high) so that I'd have time to propose without interruption from the burner. She also took pictures and filmed our special moment. The whole thing was just perfect. The take-off was thrilling, the view of the mountains in all directions was beautiful, and then at the end we had our traditional champagne toast with strawberries, all provided by Mandy. And since nobody else wound up requesting to fly on the day I planned our private trip, she didn't have to turn anyone away, so she gave the two of us the normal rate instead of the private rate. No other balloon service here offers that; it shows you what kind of person Mandy is! You really couldn't ask for a better hot air balloon trip or a better pilot. She owns the business herself and makes sure that you, the customer, will be treated right. read more

My husband and I had the opportunity to fly with Mandy this past weekend. The weather was gorgeous; it was the first day it felt like fall, and the views were spectacular. Mandy clearly communicated with us prior to the flight on everything from what to wear to what to expect, and we felt well-prepared for our adventure. With 17 years of experience, she was able to answer all of our questions about hot air ballooning and the sights over which we were traveling. From start to finish, the experience was fantastic, and I would highly recommend it. read more

Such an unforgettable experience! Mandy is so knowledgeable and professional, and most importantly, fun! Our original flight was scheduled for a Friday morning, but due to poor visibility and cloud cover Mandy recommended we move the flight to Saturday and we were thrilled that we did! There were two other balloons in the air and the views were breathtaking. Highly recommend Monticello Country Ballooning! read more

We recently flew with Monticello Country Ballooning for our anniversary. It was perfect! Mandy is very knowledgeable and friendly. We would definitely recommend using this company and look forward to flying again. read more

Great Flight, Great Communication, Great Photos Our flight was amazing. The owner was very prompt and professional with communication in regards to questions, concerns, weather, photos, etc. read more

Took a flight with Mandy and Scott (Bonaire Charters) last night. Can't say enough good things about our experience. Went as a group of 5 so we took 2 balloons. Both pilots are very experienced and work well together. Had a beautiful fight and landing. Would recommend this company to all. Will definitely be taking another flight in the fall. read more