Balloon Fiesta 2020
A guided bus tour to Balloon Fiesta events
from select Albuquerque hotels
Call us at (505) 883-9178 to reserve your seats.
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ABOUT OUR TOUR
We are experts in transportation to Balloon Fiesta. This tour takes place aboard luxury motor coaches on a closed route and we avoid traffic. We give information so you are oriented to the field upon arrival. Balloon Fiesta is made up of 14 individual sessions. There are morning sessions (Mass Ascensions) and evening sessions (Glows). We provide tours to 12 sessions. No tours on Monday or Tuesday. QUESTIONS? Please refer to the FAQ’s below. Still have questions? Give us a call at 800-333-7159 or 505-883-9178. We depart the balloon field once after each session: 9:30AM: after morning mass ascensions and 8:30PM: after evening glows. Each session is $50 & includes general admission and tax. Each session is a separate event. Each session requires a new admission ticket. 
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WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING HOTELS Our registration form is not a fill-in form. Please print, fill it in, fax, mail, e-mail or call us to sign up. THE MARRIOTT PYRAMID NORTH 5151 San Francisco NE 505-821-3333 Non-stop service to the Balloon Park Click here for the Pyramid tour registration form Route One Click here for the Route 1 tour registration form Comfort Inn : 411 McKnight NW 505-242-5228 Hotel Andaluz : 125 2nd Street NW 505-242-9090 Doubletree Hotel : 201 Marquette NW 505-247-3344 Hotel Parq Central : 806 Central Ave SE 505-242-0040 Courtyard Marriott : 5151 Journal Center NE 505-823-1919 Route Two: Click here for the Route 2 tour registration form Hotel Chaco : 2000 Bellamah NW 505-247-0708 Hotel Albuquerque : 800 Rio Grande NW 505-843-6300 Holiday Inn Express : 2300 12th Street NW 505-842-5000 Comfort Inn : 5251 San Antonio NE 505-242-0040 Hilton Garden Inn : 5320 San Antonio Dr NE 505-314-0800 Homewood Suites : 5400 San Antonio Dr NE 505-998-4663 La Quinta : 5241 San Antonio Dr. NE 505-821-9000 La Quinta : 7439 Pan American Freeway NE 505-345-7500 Days Inn : 5101 Ellison St. NE 505-344-1555 Route Three : Click here for the Route 3 tour registration form Fairfield Inn : 4875 Pan Am West Fwy NE 505-344-1574 Hampton Inn : 4412 The 25 Way NE 505-345-4500 Residence Inn North : 4331 The Lane @ 25 Way 505-761-0200 Nativo Lodge : 6000 Pan American Freeway NW 505-798-4300 Pan American Inn : 7620 Pan Am Freeway NE 505-859-4657 Greentree Inn : 7630 Pan Am Freeway NE 505-828-1600 Springhill Suites : 5910 Holly NE 505-856-5910 |
FAQS
Q: How often do you go out to the field? How long will I be at each session?
A:
Morning ascensions:
We go to the field one time in the morning. Please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You will be at the field for about 3 hours, we depart the field at 9:30AM to return to the hotels.
Evening glows:
We go to the field one time in the afternoon please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You are at the field for about 3 hours, we depart at 8:30PM after the fireworks.
Q: Are they "Sessions" or "Events"
A: Both terms are correct. The important thing to know is that they are 14 individual sessions/events and a new admission ticket is required for each one.
Q: Why should I take this tour?
A: We have a pass that allows us to use roads that are closed to passenger cars. No traffic! This closed route allows us to arrive at Balloon Fiesta Park much faster than passenger cars. We provide you with a general admission ticket at half price and we have knowledgeable and caring staff that make sure that you are oriented when you arrive at the field. We provide a map of the balloon park that has a help number that will be answered by a live person. You will spend quality time on the balloon field, no time wasted trying to figure things out.
Q: How long does it take to get to the Park and back?
A: Between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on if you are on the first stop or the last stop on the route. From the closest hotels to the Park (the Marriott Pyramid North and the Courtyard Marriott) we average 10-20 minutes to get into the park. We average 20-30 minutes to drop off at all hotels after each event.
Q: I’m looking at the Balloon Fiesta map of the Park at the Balloon Fiesta web site www.balloonfiesta.com. Where does this service drop-off and pick-up?
A: Near the lower left corner of the map you’ll see “Transit Area” the icon is a yellow taxi. That is our drop-off and pick-up point.
Q: Please explain the cost of $50 or $45 for adults/seniors and children 6-12 years old $20 and 5 and under free?
A:
The adult/senior fee of $50 includes a general admission ticket, luxury coach, tour guide & sales tax.
The adult/senior fee of $45 includes everything but the admission. This option is for people who have already purchased general admission or the Gondola Club or Chaser's Club admission.
The child fee of $20 for people 12 and younger is a discounted seat on the coach, Balloon Fiesta does not require admission for children 12 and under.
Children who are 5 and younger sit on your lap and they are free into the Park AND FREE on our transportation too. If you prefer to use a car seat you can purchase a seat for $20.
Q: Is there food at Balloon Fiesta Park?
A: Yes! There are lots of types of food available at the park. There are approx 175 vendors and many of them serve food.
Q: Do the vendors take credit cards?
A: Some do but most still prefer cash payment with no bills larger than $20.
Q: What else is there to do there?
A: There are typically 175 vendors that line the balloon field in tents. They sell a variety of foods typically found in a state-fair-type-setting. They sell every type of ballooning souvenir you can imagine. There are exhibits too, like the rock climbing wall, the chainsaw carvers and the discovery balloon tent as well as entertainment like a haunted house (admission $15) strolling Mariachis and other live bands. The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is also located at the Park and is open in the early morning. The Museum is not open during the balloon glow events.
Q: How are the morning events and the evening events different?
A: The balloons lift off and fly during the morning mass ascensions. Typically over 550 will launch between 7AM – 8:30AM. There’s no easy way to describe a mass ascension, you just gotta see it! In the evening the balloons do not fly, they are tethered, the gondola sits on the ground and the pilot uses their “glow burners” to illuminate the balloon. Glow events are a great time to meet the pilots and wander throughout the field and socialize. Glows have fast become the most popular, why? One reason is because you don’t have to wake before dawn.
Q: Can I stay at Balloon Fiesta Park all day?
A: Yes you can. Some of our guests have stayed all day and they told us that many of the vendors take “siesta” in the middle of the day so they spent a good amount of time in the beer tent waiting for the evening events to begin. On Saturday, October 10 at 1PM "Music Fiesta" begins. This is the day that our all-day service is most popular. Visit www.balloonfiesta.com to purchase Music Fiesta tickets. This year's superstar lineup will be announced in early summer. We charge $95 for all-day service (morning pick up at your hotel and 8:30pm departure from the Park), just keep in mind that you will be at Balloon Fiesta Park for 14 hours!
A:
Morning ascensions:
We go to the field one time in the morning. Please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You will be at the field for about 3 hours, we depart the field at 9:30AM to return to the hotels.
Evening glows:
We go to the field one time in the afternoon please see the sign-up form for the pick-up time from your hotel.
You are at the field for about 3 hours, we depart at 8:30PM after the fireworks.
Q: Are they "Sessions" or "Events"
A: Both terms are correct. The important thing to know is that they are 14 individual sessions/events and a new admission ticket is required for each one.
Q: Why should I take this tour?
A: We have a pass that allows us to use roads that are closed to passenger cars. No traffic! This closed route allows us to arrive at Balloon Fiesta Park much faster than passenger cars. We provide you with a general admission ticket at half price and we have knowledgeable and caring staff that make sure that you are oriented when you arrive at the field. We provide a map of the balloon park that has a help number that will be answered by a live person. You will spend quality time on the balloon field, no time wasted trying to figure things out.
Q: How long does it take to get to the Park and back?
A: Between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on if you are on the first stop or the last stop on the route. From the closest hotels to the Park (the Marriott Pyramid North and the Courtyard Marriott) we average 10-20 minutes to get into the park. We average 20-30 minutes to drop off at all hotels after each event.
Q: I’m looking at the Balloon Fiesta map of the Park at the Balloon Fiesta web site www.balloonfiesta.com. Where does this service drop-off and pick-up?
A: Near the lower left corner of the map you’ll see “Transit Area” the icon is a yellow taxi. That is our drop-off and pick-up point.
Q: Please explain the cost of $50 or $45 for adults/seniors and children 6-12 years old $20 and 5 and under free?
A:
The adult/senior fee of $50 includes a general admission ticket, luxury coach, tour guide & sales tax.
The adult/senior fee of $45 includes everything but the admission. This option is for people who have already purchased general admission or the Gondola Club or Chaser's Club admission.
The child fee of $20 for people 12 and younger is a discounted seat on the coach, Balloon Fiesta does not require admission for children 12 and under.
Children who are 5 and younger sit on your lap and they are free into the Park AND FREE on our transportation too. If you prefer to use a car seat you can purchase a seat for $20.
Q: Is there food at Balloon Fiesta Park?
A: Yes! There are lots of types of food available at the park. There are approx 175 vendors and many of them serve food.
Q: Do the vendors take credit cards?
A: Some do but most still prefer cash payment with no bills larger than $20.
Q: What else is there to do there?
A: There are typically 175 vendors that line the balloon field in tents. They sell a variety of foods typically found in a state-fair-type-setting. They sell every type of ballooning souvenir you can imagine. There are exhibits too, like the rock climbing wall, the chainsaw carvers and the discovery balloon tent as well as entertainment like a haunted house (admission $15) strolling Mariachis and other live bands. The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is also located at the Park and is open in the early morning. The Museum is not open during the balloon glow events.
Q: How are the morning events and the evening events different?
A: The balloons lift off and fly during the morning mass ascensions. Typically over 550 will launch between 7AM – 8:30AM. There’s no easy way to describe a mass ascension, you just gotta see it! In the evening the balloons do not fly, they are tethered, the gondola sits on the ground and the pilot uses their “glow burners” to illuminate the balloon. Glow events are a great time to meet the pilots and wander throughout the field and socialize. Glows have fast become the most popular, why? One reason is because you don’t have to wake before dawn.
Q: Can I stay at Balloon Fiesta Park all day?
A: Yes you can. Some of our guests have stayed all day and they told us that many of the vendors take “siesta” in the middle of the day so they spent a good amount of time in the beer tent waiting for the evening events to begin. On Saturday, October 10 at 1PM "Music Fiesta" begins. This is the day that our all-day service is most popular. Visit www.balloonfiesta.com to purchase Music Fiesta tickets. This year's superstar lineup will be announced in early summer. We charge $95 for all-day service (morning pick up at your hotel and 8:30pm departure from the Park), just keep in mind that you will be at Balloon Fiesta Park for 14 hours!
