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Old 12-27-2017, 05:05 AM   #1
OWV
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ABQ Balloon Festival - Where to stay

Good morning and Happy New Year.

For those of you who have been to the Albuquerque Balloon festival, would you be willing to share your thoughts on where to stay on site?

Are there any plans for an Entegra gathering this year? I seem to recall that there was an Entegra group last year. If there was, where did the group stay?

If no plans for an Entegra gathering does anyone have any experience with trying to hook up with another group?

Thank you, as always, for taking the time to respond.

Regards,
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Old 12-27-2017, 06:38 AM   #2
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We have done the fiesta 3 times. First time with an owners group. Next 2 times no reservations. Every time in the huge dry camping area across from Alemeda Ave.

The best place to stay is at one of the fiesta camping areas. The best of them is the dry camping area. ABQ area CGs with FHUs are hellishly expensive & are a real pain with the commuting, traffic & walking to launch field. Fiesta area camping with power supplied by big diesel generators is expensive & if you get put anywhere near a genny no fun at all.

At the massive dry camping area high demand for space is only the first weekend of the fiesta. From Monday onwards you can drive in & get a spot vacated by one of the first weekend people. Good thing also about this area is that most days the air currents bring the balloons right over it, sometimes landing right in the midst of the RVs. No need to walk or ride the free shuttle to the launch field.
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Old 12-27-2017, 06:53 AM   #3
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I owned a Monaco Dynasty before I traded for this Anthem. And when we decided to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, we were haunting the Monaco section of this forum. They have been a group at the ABF for many years and they have the best location of any group if you really want to be at the balloon fiesta and see all the action all the time. They have 50 or so reserved locations on the first row of parking in the lot immediately adjacent to the balloon launch field. You walk 200' and you are walking in the launch field. The year that we went with them, they had maybe 10-15 other brand coaches to help fill their allocation and were happy to have them to fill all their spots. They have a lunch or two and a dinner and daily happy-hours scheduled. They share the entire balloon fiesta period with another coach group who has the first half of the fiesta and Monaco has the second half. IMO. they have the optimal set up. You cant do better. This group is dry camping and you make your own power. That's why we all have gennys...... right?

You simply need to start to hang out on their section of this forum and ask the question about the ABF and see what their plans are. If the wind it right, the balloons take off and come right up over the coaches with the baskets maybe 90' above the coach roof. Pretty spectacular.

Most groups are housed way off campus in RV parks or other parking areas and you take a bus back and forth to the launch field. Since much of the activity depends completely on what the wind is doing, if you are off site, you may find that you take the bus in to the field and they arent flying. Alternately, they may be having a "glow" where the balloons fire up but dont fly at dusk and if the group has not organized a bus run, then you cant be part of it. Just IMHO, but that was the best of the options.

Gary
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Old 12-27-2017, 07:10 AM   #4
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We have only been once...we stayed in VIP West with the Newmar Kountry Klub. They included a lot of extras...like a Baloonist coming to us on site to give a seminar on “everything you would want to know about a Balloon, but were afraid to ask”. Souvenir Jackets, luncheons and evening socials. We had a blast.

The VIP parking is a short walk to the field and includes daily passes for two.

When plan to go again in 2019...and will try to get into VIP West again...but honestly...I just want to be there. If you wind up South of Alameda...they have shuttle busses, or you can walk/ride bikes. They have a bike valet at the field...

I wouldn’t want to be off site. You would have to get up at 3-4am and be getting to the field before 5am, otherwise you’ll be in a gigantic traffic jam. We got up around 4:30 each morning (normal body time for an east coaster) walked the dogs, met up with friends and walked down for the morning dawn patrol. Stayed on the field, had breakfast amongst the many vendor tents set up on “Main Street”... and made it back to the RV in time to plan the afternoon events seeing the town.

Anyway...it is spectacular. Well actually, in my opinion, even better than spectacular.

We had a phenomenal time. Really look forward to doing it again.

We did a little over 4,000 miles going round trip...so it’s a trek for sure.
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Old 12-27-2017, 07:45 AM   #5
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We stayed in the Presidential lots last year with 30 amp power, it was great, a super view out the windshield for the morning glow and the launch.
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Old 12-27-2017, 09:17 AM   #6
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We stayed in the Presidential lots last year with 30 amp power, it was great, a super view out the windshield for the morning glow and the launch.
This is by far the best place to stay. Very hard to get into and you have to be on your computer as soon as sales open up but worth it. You will be overlooking the launch field and all the poor people that are being bused in. No traffic or crowds, just a lawn chair and your favorite beverage. It’s awesome! The directors of the fiesta all have 5th wheels up there supplied by Mesa RV. Forget traveling in a group and book it for yourself, you won’t be sorry!
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Old 12-27-2017, 03:42 PM   #7
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This is by far the best place to stay. Very hard to get into and you have to be on your computer as soon as sales open up but worth it. You will be overlooking the launch field and all the poor people that are being bused in. No traffic or crowds, just a lawn chair and your favorite beverage. It’s awesome! The directors of the fiesta all have 5th wheels up there supplied by Mesa RV. Forget traveling in a group and book it for yourself, you won’t be sorry!
How do you reserve a site here? What web site?
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Old 12-27-2017, 04:46 PM   #8
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How do you reserve a site here? What web site?
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - RV Information
I don’t know if anything is available for next year but here is where you start
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Old 12-27-2017, 06:40 PM   #9
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Lots of good advice here. We've stayed off-site and we stayed in VIP East next to the Presidential Lot. It was terrific. Dry camping but not a problem at all. Loved setting out the chairs at night and having coffee ready to go for the glows. Even though VIP West is in the flight path, the ability to be above the field and watch all the activity was incredible.

Easy return for an afternoon nap. Old town Albuquerque is a great evening and the market is fun for an afternoon.

Car-Bus-Walk at 3:30 in the morning was no fun and colder as (You can fill in the blank).
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Old 01-06-2018, 12:59 PM   #10
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This is by far the best place to stay. Very hard to get into and you have to be on your computer as soon as sales open up but worth it. You will be overlooking the launch field and all the poor people that are being bused in. No traffic or crowds, just a lawn chair and your favorite beverage. It’s awesome! The directors of the fiesta all have 5th wheels up there supplied by Mesa RV. Forget traveling in a group and book it for yourself, you won’t be sorry!
About when do sales open up? Also, does anyone know where ECOA stayed last year and is a group of ECOA owners going this year?

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Old 01-06-2018, 01:20 PM   #11
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ABQ Balloon Festival - Where to stay

We stayed at American RV which was quite a distance away but a very nice park.
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Old 01-06-2018, 02:41 PM   #12
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About when do sales open up? Also, does anyone know where ECOA stayed last year and is a group of ECOA owners going this year?

Regards,
OWV
Every year we open RV reservations 9 days after the current event for the next year, on Tuesday morning at 9AM MDT.

That would be Oct 23 2018 for the 2019 Fiesta. It is a little late for this year. But there is a waiting list.

Availabilty for 2018 https://online.rezexpert.com/book?business_code=303488
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Old 01-06-2018, 02:45 PM   #13
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About when do sales open up? Also, does anyone know where ECOA stayed last year and is a group of ECOA owners going this year?

Regards,
OWV
Yup, what Norm said, 9 days. Don’t know where the group stayed but I know they are working on trying to get closer this year.
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Old 01-06-2018, 02:47 PM   #14
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About when do sales open up? Also, does anyone know where ECOA stayed last year and is a group of ECOA owners going this year?
I think registration opens up 2 weeks after the close of the event which means 2018 is open for registration and all of the good spots are likely sold out BUT (like everyone else says) the dry camping area south of Alameda is a great spot, inexpensive, and reservations may not be needed.
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