Bridgend County Council Home-to-School Routes Operated by Cresta Coaches

Bristol Balloon Fiesta Day Trip

1 Day = £29 pp
10 August 2024
Tour Includes

Bristol Balloon Fiesta Day Trip

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was founded on the weekend of the 7th-9th September 1979. A small gathering of like-minded balloonists came together to celebrate the first ever Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, at the popular ballooning location, Ashton Court.

Spectators witnessed a mass ascent of 27 balloons attending the Fiesta and marvelled at the many other flights made throughout the weekend. Most balloons came from the West Country, while others came from Ireland, Luxembourg and West Germany. From this small beginning, the Fiesta has grown year on year, flourishing into what has become Europe’s largest free annual hot air balloon festival. Today, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta attracts over 100 hot air balloons and is witnessed by 500,000 followers over the four days of the event.

The Fiesta has become as much of an icon for Bristol as Brunel, Wallace and Gromit or Concorde. The fiesta is a charity, run by a committee and remains free of charge to the public, in line with the ethos of how it was founded.

The Fiesta features mass ascents, with balloons taking off from a dedicated arena at the centre of Ashton Court Estate. Arriving in the afternoon, we have time to enjoy the Fiesta, stalls, and food before the highly anticipated Mass Ascent to watch the hot air balloons take to the air in spellbinding glory. Then in the evening, we watch the fantastic Nightglow as the hot air balloons light up the night sky to music – it’s a truly magical sight.

Please note: balloon flights are subject to weather conditions.

Please note: Ballooning is very weather and wind dependent so the decision to fly is left to the last minute when the flying committee announce with a smoke cannon whether it is safe for pilots to take to the skies. This jeopardy is a big part of ballooning and adds to the magic when they have perfect conditions to fly.

We depart Bristol at 20:00 to start our homeward journey back to South Wales.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta Day Trip

For further information about Bristol Balloon Fiesta, please click here (opens in a new window)

 

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Special Conditions associated with Air, Ferry & Train Connections

Departures & Collections

Departures. The Company will if asked give an estimated journey time to your departure Air/Ferry port etc. Clients should always build in a provision for unforeseen circumstances and in particular always allow extra time when travelling to the major UK Airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Manchester Etc. Most of Britons Ferry & Airports are accessed via some of the countries busiest Motorway networks and we are finding that delays are becoming much more frequent. Particular attention should also be paid to check-in time given by airlines. Especially those airline companies that operate a shorter check-in time such as 1-2 hours. Our drivers are legally required to take a rest period of at least 45 Minutes after completing 4 ½ hours driving. We do however recommend this be reduced to no more than 3 hours driving. These break period should be added to your proposed departure times.

Breakdowns and delays

The Company gives its advice on journey times in good faith but does not guarantee the completion of any journey within a specific time period and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience caused by breakdown or other delays. The Company will not be held responsible for late arrivals or missed flights due to circumstances beyond its control.

Return Collections

The Company has access to most UK airports flight arrivals information and relies heavily on the live updates being provided by the major Airline Companies. It is therefore imperative that we are given your return flight details in full on final confirmation of your booking. Depending on which UK airport you are using you will be given a set of instructions to follow on what to do upon your return flight arrival.

Delayed Return Flights

Cresta Coaches will give allowance for return flight delays of up to 2 hours. Any additional delays in return flight collections are subject to an hourly charge of £25 per hour. These charges are in addition to the stated hire fees.

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All airport parking fees paid by the Company are in addition to the vehicle hire costs stated unless confirmed to be inclusive.