Many people dream of floating peacefully high above the countryside in a hot air balloon. It's an expensive activity so most people look for cheap hot air balloon rides first to save some money. If you have been wanting to take a hot air balloon flight but thought that it is too expensive for you, you might be surprised to find that you can get some discounts if you take the time to research and get creative.
Use the yellow pages or research online for local hot air balloon ride companies (see resources below). Find out if they offer coupons at any time during the year.
Attend a hot air balloon festival. Usually, there are companies there that give balloon rides. These pilots have larger baskets and can take more people at one time so the price is lower than if you went on an individual paid balloon flight.
Watch out for other community events in your area (like fairs) that are advertising hot air balloon rides. Again, these commercial hot air balloon ride companies can offer lower prices because they take more people at once.
You can book hot air balloon rides with CheapTickets.com and if you are a member of Upromise, you can earn 1% back towards college.
If you are lucky enough to be friends with a hot air balloon pilot, then you might be able to ask a favor or get lucky and get invited to go on a flight.
If all else fails, ask your friends and family for a gift certificate for your birthday or the holidays. Even if you get them in $20 increments, eventually you will get enough to cover the cost of a flight.
