Balloon Rides Payments

The Cappadocia balloon trip was amazing! Our Turkey tour last October was through Adventures with Sarah. The balloon company representative came to our hotel with one of those portable credit card readers.

I assume because you asked in this forum you are going on a Rick Steves tour? I used a credit card but the company added a small premium to that transaction, if I had used cash (in TL) it would have been less. You can ask your guide early on in the tour about payment options in case you need to get cash from ATMs. Their currency comes in small denominations so the balloon ride will be quite a wad of cash. My tour group used Kapadokya Balloons but I think RS uses a number of companies so don't assume that's who you will have.

And you are correct to put this activity on your bucket list, it is spectacular.

Just read an apparent update on the credit card service charge, which appears to be either USD 70.00 or 80.00, exactly twenty percent upcharge on the USD 350.00 to USD 400.00 base cost.

I believe I will have to use cash because that difference is steep.

Follow up question: Turkish lira or US Dollars or Euros best for this activity?

Just read an apparent update on the credit card service charge, which
appears to be either USD 70.00 or 80.00, exactly twenty percent
upcharge on the USD 350.00 to USD 400.00 base cost. I believe I will
have to use cash because that difference is steep. Follow up question:
Turkish lira or US Dollars or Euros best for this activity?

Still unclear if you're on a tour or traveling on your own, so don't know where you got the info about the credit card charge. If you use cash you should pay in Turkish lira, that is the currency used in Turkey, unless the company specifically says they will take euros. You will likely need to make more than one ATM withdrawal as machines have a per transaction limit, and your bank may also have a daily cash withdrawal limit so you will need to plan ahead.

I am on a September Rick Steves tour, Best of Turkey in 13 days.

This is where I got the update: the Pre-Tour Planning section of the Best of Turkey in 13 Days section.

The writing is clearly for the Rick Steves tour and not independent travelers, so my inquiries were in case of a sudden surge in inflation in Turkey...

Hot-Air Ballooning in Cappadocia:
A balloon ride is not included in the tour program but can be a highlight for any traveler. If you're interested in taking a balloon ride, please let your guide know in Istanbul so they can coordinate reservations for your free time on the second day in Cappadocia. Since these rides are best experienced at dawn, you'll leave before sunrise and be back at your hotel in time for breakfast. The whole experience — including transportation — takes about three hours. The one-hour flight regularly costs about $350-400USD per person ($420-480 if paid by credit card). Please note there are inherent risks with hot-air ballooning, Rick Steves' Europe and SRM assume no responsibility for your choice to participate, and that you participate at your own risk.

thanks for the additional info. When I took the RS tour in 2023 the info provided about the balloon ride wasn't as specific as what you received.

Inflation is indeed an issue in Turkey. I looked back at my credit card statement for my balloon ride in September 2023 - it was 8,500 lira or $312US (the exchange rate is listed as 27.17 lira to dollars). Back then inflation was already wild, clearly prices have continued to increase. For me, the balloon ride was worth every penny times 50 - definitely a once in a lifetime bucket list excursion (and I'm afraid of heights).

Wow! One certainly doesn’t want a cut rate vendor on this, but that is a very expensive balloon ride! By contrast (I haven’t done it in Turkey), Luxor Egypt a few years ago was less than $100, and next year Marrakech Morocco is $215 — both as optional excursions with Overseas Adventure Travel.

Thanks for the responses.

I note the write-up says "regularly costs" so hopefully if enough of our group goes it might be a lower "irregular cost" or a "special one time deal for all you nice people" and maybe a bit less, but I will be prepared with enough lira and make a decision.

Yes, it's a lot.

For instance, a 1-hour balloon ride where I am is CAD $325 (USD $235), so it seems to be considerably more but... I know I would be kicking myself for the rest of my life for not doing it.

The usual traveler's dilemma... why travel to the other side of the world just to be a cheapskate and not enjoy the fact you're on the other side of the world celebrating a great life. But it is a lot LOL.

Years ago we negotiated a reasonable price for our Cappadocia balloon ride from a tour agency in Istanbul. The balloon company picked us up at our small fairy chimney BnB. It will be our only balloon ride…very special with all the balloons going up at the same time and the interesting rock formations. Can’t believe how pricey the rides are today, but likely in line with all other travel costs.

The usual traveler's dilemma... why travel to the other side of the
world just to be a cheapskate and not enjoy the fact you're on the
other side of the world celebrating a great life. But it is a lot LOL.

The views and landscape are completely unique and unlikely to be found in Canada (no offense to my friends up north). FWIW, I believe our our balloon ride was a "deluxe" version. It included van transportation to/from our hotel (about 30-40 minutes each way), a breakfast/snack bag with water, and a toast with the balloon pilots (non alcoholic bubbles) at the end. The ride lasted an hour and 20 minutes which is longer than some other offerings. I have zero regrets about the cost.

In 2024, I went the balloon ride in Cappadocia as part of a Rick Steves tour.

I used cash to pay for the balloon ride. In anticipation of it, I got cash from an Istanbul ATM via my U.S. card a couple days prior. Others on the tour paid for the balloon ride via a charge card plus a fee.

I went on the RS tour in October 2023 and went on the balloon ride. It was a spectacular experience, worth every penny. I believe I paid cash and don’t really remember the cost, but it was certainly a splurge. The RS tour guide will coordinate everything with a good, reputable company. The company sent a representative to the hotel the evening before to collect payment.

A couple thoughts:

If you decide to pay cash, be sure to plan ahead for ATM withdrawals. My account has a limit on the amount of any one transaction, so sometimes I have to take several withdrawals over a few days when I need a large amount of cash.

In October it was quite chilly before dawn on the day of the balloon ride. I wore all my layers, including the cashmere scarf that I bought in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and was glad I did!