AIBU to ask about your hot air balloon experiences?

[Malacath]

After booking it for the 5th time due to Covid and the weather, it looks like our flight is finally going to go ahead this weekend. I'm equal parts excited and terrified, as is DH
If you've been on a hot air balloon ride, have you got any tips on how to dress? I'm guessing layers would be good but have no idea how cold it would be up there at this time of year. It will be a flight at sunrise. Well, the website says 6am but sunrise will be about half 4

@oopoopandaway We had another flight planned for today which was cancelled due to the rubbish weather forecast too. We've booked 7 or 8 times now. Previous flight, on the hottest day of the year, was cancelled due to a sea breeze and possible thunder showers (in north Suffolk and nowhere near the coast). It feels beyond ridiculous now and I wonder if any flights from our location ever goes ahead! I appreciate they need to be extremely safe, but why fly from a location where the flights are cancelled pretty much year round? I really can't see us flying this year at all. DH is more than fed up with it all and doesn't really want to go anymore. Equally we don't want to have wasted hundreds of pounds! It was a milestone birthday present, almost 2 years ago now.

The thing that surprised me, and shouldn't have really, was it didn't feel windy at all - because of course you are travelling with the wind.
It was ~30 years ago for me now, can't remember much else!

I went up on a hot air balloon once, about 20 years ago. It was lovely. We left from somewhere in Hampshire and flew over mainly fields and woods.
It was so quiet. We flew over rabbits and deer in the fields who didn't even notice us.
When we landed the basket fell over and I ended up in pile with the 8 other strangers in the group which was funny.
I'd highly recommend this experience. I loved it.

Hope you get to go soon OP

I am 5'1" and came up to chest height I think
Was a big basket for 16, divided into 4 with 4 in each

Wonderfully peaceful - most of the time - but be prepared for the loud noise of the flame when you first start & when the boost it for height; I wasn't and it made me jump!

Bit of a bumpy landing but we stayed upright and it was fun packing the balloon away between us

Agree layers - we were early morning in Australia and glad I had my hoody on

Sorry to hear you've had it cancelled again. I've never booked one here as I'd be worried it would be constantly cancelled due to the weather.

I did mine in Egypt. It was really enjoyable and I'd definitely do it again. Unfortunately we landed heavily in the middle of a road, right in front of a remarkably calm donkey (and cart). We held up traffic for a while until everyone could drag themselves out and then drag the basket out of the way

Layers as it's cold higher up.
Really good gripping shoes that fit, not flip flops or slip on shoes.
Light waterproof.

Was a very bumpy landing and we had to help roll up the balloon afterwards, so good shoes for a rough terrain are needed.

Probably a long shot but you weren't going from the Oaksmere in Suffolk were you? Dh and I flew from there a few years ago - took many attempts but we got there in the end. I know several people who've ended up getting refunds after 2 years of cancelled flights (pre covid)

I loved it but wouldn't do it again because I didn't realise until I was up that the only way to land is a crash landing somewhere hopefully in an even farmers field but nothing is guaranteed. Wear trousers and sensible shoes!

Not the point of the thread but I assumed the basket would have a little door/gate rather than everyone commando jumping over the top. Also I thought it ould land 'properly' rather than toppling over. Don't think I'll be booking one now

We did one in Sedona and it was amazing and not at all scary. Worth mentioning: wear a hat as the burner is very hot, wear a warm jumper (one you can tie around your waist if you don't need it) and I'm mid 60s and struggled to get in and out of the high-sided basket (be prepared to look like a hippo!). It was an amazing experience.

I went on one with my best friend a few years ago which was a sunrise trip over the Malvern Hills. We were lucky in that it went ahead on the first booking. Sun had already risen but it was lovely nonetheless. I don’t remember it being particularly cold although we did have coats on. Hardest part was climbing in the basket and like a pp, our basket tipped over on landing. But it was all really funny. Loved being up in the air, so peaceful, amazing views etc. Didn’t feel scary or anything.

At least they are cancelling before you get to the site! I've done 2 balloon rides. The 1 in Australia, was booked when we were in a vineyard region and wrongly assumed it would go ahead whilst we were there. Got to site at ridiculous O'clock, they sent up a little weather monitor/flame or something and said its no good and we'd have to try another time. Problem was, that the vineyards were a 3hr drive from where we lived. Twice more, we did this ridiculous drive, leaving at 2am, to be there on time, to be told it wasn't the best of the weather!!!

The one in Egypt was equally early, but I detect far less safety conscious! I recall us floating above a farmers field and him trying to shoo us away! We all had to crouch down and 'brace' then got dragged along the ground, on the side, for sometime. It was fine though, because the sides are high, so as long as you can crouch down, you are inside the actual basket.

I agree with wearing layers, a hat and gloves, but also have a T-shirt underneath incase it does get hot.

Ensure if you have a camera or phone, that its tied around your wrist

Except for the burner noise, it was quiet, peaceful and most enjoyable. Have a fabulous time OP.