For that special occasion why not give an ‘open dated’ Balloons over Britain gift certificate, it is so simply and the recipient will be thrilled. You may have your own special reasons for giving one of our certificates to take a hot air balloon ride through one of our operators local to you, but we offer some suggestions.

You could offer this as a birthday present, following a proposal of marriage, a special wedding gift, wedding or other anniversary, for mothering Sunday, a special Christmas gift, a retirement present, just as a thank you, or as a business incentive. There is no doubt that the lucky recipient will be delighted and look forward to the hot air balloon flight and the following champagne reception. They will certainly talk about it and remember it for years to come. Our gift certificates are open dated allowing the recipient to choose a convenient date and are valid for up to 12 months and easily purchased online.

It is only just coming to the need of summer but many of us are already thinking of those gifts fro special people at Christmas time. Balloon ride gift certificates are a popular year-round choice, but giving them as a Christmas gift is popular as these can be used at any time during the year when it suits both you and the recipient of the hot air balloon ride.

The hot air balloon certificate is a unique gift and easy to give, well appreciated and convenient for the user. It is important that you do a little research before you buy a certificate from anyone, but at Balloons over Britain our directory of companies is the easiest way to guarantee you are dealing with a genuine balloon flight company that operates its own balloons, not from a gift certificate company or an intermediary adding their bit of profit. At Balloons over Britain our members have been operating passenger balloon rides for over ten years, some for twice as long giving us an unparalleled wealth of operational experience that we share across the network to ensure the highest operating standards. Call us and we will talk you through the many options available for this unique gift.

Since the early 1960’s hot air balloons for rides and competitions have been on the rise. Companies are increasingly using this exciting medium to publicise their company or one of its products. Many differing types of designs and colours are used and Hot Air Balloons are now in constant use all over the world.

Passengers using one of the local operators at Balloons over Britain will be familiar with the procedures of a hot air balloon flight, but for spectators the launch and landing are spectacular events to watch. Before the launch the balloon crew lays out the envelope and then uses a fan to blow hot air into the envelope of the balloon. Once there is enough air in the balloon, the crew starts the burner to heat the air inside.

The Hot Air Balloon ride itself is a wonderful experience, once tried it will never be forgotten and is one of the ten top things most people wish to do in their lifetime. Our qualified pilots’ always make a note of the wind and weather conditions and will not fly unless it is safe and ideal for that day. If the weather is not suitable on the scheduled day of your flight, our local hot air balloon operators will arrange for a new date and time that is suitable to you.

Have you ever wondered the procedure for filling a hot air balloon before you take off on that magical flight over the beautiful British countryside? Well it is relatively simple and one that has been tried and tested over the years by our Local Balloon Operators.

Firstly the Balloons over Britain operator will remove the envelope from its bag and lay this out in long line, the burners are attached to the uprights and the all important basket in which you will travel is attached to the cables at the bottom of the balloon. A fan driving cold air is then used to inflate the envelope and when this is partially inflated the air is heated with the burners when you will see the hot air balloon rising above the basket.

Continuing to use the burners will enable the balloon to lift and subsequently “fly.” The all important burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably use in your gas barbecue. The burners do not run continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift. Enjoy your hot air balloon ride and take a photograph the 100 foot balloon above you.

There is little that can surpass seeing the sunrise from the basket of a Hot Air Balloon, sadly we have not seen much of that this summer, but do not be put off. When taking your Hot Air Balloon Ride through one of the Balloons over Britain local operators, your flight will take place either at dawn or at dusk and both will be remembered for years to come.

An early morning flight will take place before sunrise when you will gently lift off the ground to a height of approximately 10-20m and leisurely float along with the wind. At this height, weather permitting, you are able to have a glorious view of the sunrise as well as keeping on the lookout for land marks on the ground below. The panoramic views that you are privy to from this height are bound to leave many speechless, this is a magnificent experience and will leave you with a warm glow for weeks after. Hot Air Ballooning is incredibly tranquil and is ideal for people of all ages.

You may be aware what is involved when you book a hot air balloon ride UK wide through one of the many operators within the organisation of Balloons over Britain. You will fly high and see the rolling hills and countryside gently float by below you, and we promise we will not spill a drop of that champagne reserved for you on landing, our enthusiastic and experienced chase crew will see to that!

Firstly you will be amazed as the Hot Air Balloon envelope begins to fill and begin to take that traditional tear drop or distinctive corporate shape, helped by cold air fans as well as the hot air burners. You should take lots of film in your camera, or bring along that new digital that you have as you will be sure to want to record as much of this as possible. Of course you will want to be recorded near and in the balloon basket, so ask one of the local operators expert crew, they are good at photography as well. We know you will enjoy your flight with a Balloons over Britain UK operator and you will have the photographic memories to treasure afterwards as well.

One of the best and most sensible ways to give the gift of a Hot Air Balloon flight UK wide is through one of the voucher schemes that are offered at the website of Balloons Over Britain, the premier hot air balloon ride operator. The members operating under the Balloons over Britain umbrella have been taking passengers in their Hot Air Balloons for up to twenty years, giving an unparalleled wealth of operational experience.

There are two basic gift voucher schemes available through Balloons over Britain both of which give flexibility to you or the recipient of your gift. The local voucher scheme allows you to choose a local operator near you from the interactive website map or a comprehensive list of members. Alternatively the nationwide scheme offers a wide choice of options from which you can choose, accepted by all our operators at a time and place convenient to you or your friend.

We also have gift vouchers starting from only £25, these allow you to choose how much of the balloon flight that you want to pay for, a method of contributing towards a hot air balloon flight. Contact us and we will be pleased to you show the full range of gift voucher options.

The fields are, or have been harvested and as you fly over them offering their golden carpeted patterns, you will be pleased that you took the decision to take that autumn Hot Air Balloon rides at one of the Balloons over Britain UK launch sites.

September usually offers light winds and more settled weather, ideal for experiencing your first or maybe a return flight in one of our local operators Hot Air Balloons. The month offers superb sunrises and sunsets at the time when most of the balloon flights take place, giving you and your friends stunning vistas and photographic opportunities that will remain with you for ever. Ideally we would suggest that you buy a voucher which will enable you to choose a time and locality suitable to you and your friends, with the opportunity for you to make a wonderful autumn day.

We are all suffering from a pretty dreadful period of summer weather, but you should not be put off by some rain and cloud. Taking a Hot Air Balloon ride in the UK is subject to some vagaries with our renowned summers, but as long as the wind is not too strong, and your qualified Hot Air Balloon pilot considers it to be safe you will still enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.

Hot Air Ballooning is in the top ten of things most people want to do and it is something that is now easily achieved through Balloons over Britain’s operators who fly from locations that are near to you. When you buy a voucher you should book your flight about three to four weeks ahead, longer if this is going to be over a bank holiday or at the weekend. Please remember that ballooning is dependant or acceptable weather conditions, so you should contact your local operator by telephone to check to see if the flight will be taking place. Wear some sensible clothing and we guarantee that you will not just enjoy your Hot Air Balloon flight but will want to do it again.

There is no doubt that business is becoming harder in these times of a slowing economy and leaders of industry are searching fro ways to maintain, and where possible increase their share of a shrinking market.

There has been of late, an increase in companies that are turning to Hot Air Balloons to publicise their company’s products, reward loyal staff, or incentivise them to seek new business. Balloons over Britain have the advantage of being associated with local operators throughout the UK and so corporate entertainment can be offered at a site which is close to an existing or potential new customer.

Balloons over Britain has close ties to manufacturers of Hot Air Balloons and can assist in either using an existing balloon for advertising, or increasingly, companies are buying balloons of a special shape depicting their product range. Hot air balloons have always been used for commercial purposes right from the time that they first took to the sky, why not join them?