đ New Mexicoď˝Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
A once-in-a-lifetime experience: floating above the clouds in a hot air balloon, gazing down at the earth from the sky. The moment you lift off, and when you glide past other balloons⌠itâs pure magic. ⨠Only those whoâve been there truly understand how priceless that feeling is! Hereâs your essential guide: Hot air balloons exist in many places, but if you want to see hundreds at once, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the place to be! đď¸ 1) Book your Ryder ticket EARLY! While the festival has tons of balloons, most arenât for passengers. Your only ride option is Rainbow Ryder. Tickets go on sale in Januaryâvia phone only! The best dates (first weekend) sell out within 1-2 weeks. Be quick! ⥠đ 2) You MUST have a car! Check-in for balloon rides starts at 4:45 AM. Public transit or park-and-ride wonât get you there on time. Rent a car earlyâprices spike closer to the event. Ubers can cost $200â300 due to traffic, so plan wisely! âď¸ 3) Fly in the night before or take a red-eye! Ryder tickets are non-refundable. The only exception is flight delays (with proof). If you miss your ride for any other reason, you wonât get a refund. â° 4) Arrive EXTRA early! I left my hotel at 4 AM (20-minute drive). The gates open at 4:30 AM, and Ryder check-in starts at 4:45 AM. But⌠roads were jammed by 4:15 AM! I barely made it at 4:45 AM as the second-to-last group. Donât cut it close! 𧼠5) Bring a winter jacket! At thousands of feet up, the wind is no jokeâeven if you usually prefer style over warmth. Youâll thank yourself! Finallyâsavor every moment, take tons of photos, and immerse yourself in this incredible spectacle. With countless balloons filling the sky, every shot is Insta-worthy! đ¸â¤ď¸ #HotAirBalloon #BalloonFiesta #NewMexico #ABQBalloon #BucketList #TravelGuide #Albuquerque
