Adrenaline

A US adventure marketplace built around gifts

Adrenaline sells adventure experiences across the United States, from helicopter rides and skydiving to ATV tours and supercar drives, both as bookable activities and as gift certificates. It does not run the activities. The about page says it works "by partnering with the best Experience Providers," and the ATV page says "Adrenaline USA has partnered with some of the best ATV Tour operators in the country." So the company you pay is Adrenaline, and the operator who flies the helicopter or leads the ride is a local partner.

Its reach is national. The search menu groups destinations into Pacific (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington), West (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah), Midwest, Northeast (including Washington D.C.) and South, with states listed under each. The homepage claims "over 1,600 experiences to choose from" and says you can "choose from any of our activities anywhere in the USA." The footer's things-to-do list names Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Maui, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, San Diego and Seattle. Prices are in US dollars.

The homepage describes the company as "America's best known and most trusted supplier" of gift ideas and gift certificates, and the about page says it has been "curating thrilling experiences and outdoor activities" for "over 25 years." A review widget reads "Customers rate Adrenaline 92%," based on 3860 reviews. Those are the company's own claims and figures.

What it sells

The about page sorts the catalog into flying, land, water and driving experiences. Flying experiences are helicopter tours, skydiving and pilot lessons. Land adventures cover ATV tours, zip line tours, horseback riding, indoor skydiving and off-roading. Water excursions include shark diving, swimming encounters, whitewater rafting, airboat tours, sailing and scenic cruises. Driving experiences run from exotic supercar driving and NASCAR driving to karting.

The homepage's most popular list shows starting prices for the headline categories: skydiving from $139, helicopter rides from $89, hot air balloon rides from $179, a pilot lesson from $99, exotic supercars from $79, zip line tours from $25.95, ATV tours from $138, scenic cruises from $14.75, NASCAR from $100, and aerial combat from $1,495. Gift certificates start at $20. Many carry discount banners, such as "up to 36% OFF" on skydiving and "up to 57% OFF" on helicopter rides, and short review counts like "430+ reviews" on skydiving and "1800+ reviews" on helicopter rides. The homepage also shows trending deals: an extra $15 off indoor skydiving with a code, and $46 off per couple on an NYC helicopter flight for two.

Helicopter tours get a lot of attention. The footer links to pages for the Grand Canyon, New York City, Kauai, Maui, Oahu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and South Rim helicopter tours, plus skydiving in Las Vegas and hot air balloon rides in Phoenix.

A closer look: ATV and UTV rides

The ATV category page shows how individual listings are presented. Each has a location, a duration and a price, sometimes marked "best seller," "special" or "just listed." The first page of results (of 4) includes:

• A Kualoa Ranch UTV Guided Tour on Oahu, 2 hours, "Book Up to 4 People Per Vehicle," price per person $154.95 with a "Lowest Price Guarantee."
• ATV Riding in Orlando, 1 hour, $115 against a list price of $123.05.
• An ATV Adventure Tour on the North Shore of Oahu, 60 minutes, $131.
• A Two-Seater Dune Buggy Rental in Pismo Beach, 1 hour, $342.
• A Kualoa Ranch UTV Drive Adventure, 3 hours, $199.95.
• A Side by Side Buggy Drive in Orlando, 1 hour, $399.
• A Guided ATV Tour at Ohana Ranch on the Big Island, 2 hours, $109.
• A Guided Off-Road ATV Tour in Miami, 45 minutes, $100.

The page's FAQ explains that ATVs "typically seat one or two riders" while UTVs "are larger and feature side-by-side seating." It says most ATV and UTV tours are suitable for beginners and that "in many cases, the primary requirement is that drivers are at least 16 years old." It names Orlando, Phoenix, Sedona and Oahu among the most popular ATV destinations on the site, and advises long pants and closed-toe shoes, adding that "most ATV tours provide essential safety equipment such as helmets and goggles." These are general statements; the rules for any one ride sit with its operator.

Buying, gifting and support

You can buy an experience for yourself or a gift certificate for someone else. The homepage says your adventure or certificate "will be instantly emailed to you," or you can send a gift pack by express shipping. The gift certificate panel lists its terms: it "can be used towards any experience on our site," is "sent instantly via email," "can also be sent via post in a brushed metal gift box," comes with "free returns within 14 days of purchase," and has "no expiration date on Flexi Gift Certificates." You decide the value, and express shipping is free on orders over $199. The about page's list adds a "low price guarantee," "gift certificates valid for 5 years" and "expert consultants."

Support is by phone at 1-888-992-3736, with a contact page and a login for customers. The footer links to corporate bookings, group bookings, a travel agent page, an affiliate program and a "Become a Partner" page for operators.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The site does not set out the rules that matter on the day. It does not state a cancellation or rescheduling policy for booked experiences, or what happens when weather cancels a flight or a ride; the 14-day return is stated for gift certificates, not for bookings. The category page does not consistently name the operator: some listings carry a ranch name such as Kualoa Ranch or Ohana Ranch, others only a street address. Validity also reads two ways: the about page says certificates are valid for 5 years, while the homepage says Flexi certificates have no expiration date. It is worth checking which kind you are buying.

On the plus side, the range is wide and priced openly, the gift certificate lets a recipient pick their own activity anywhere in the country, and the category pages give durations and prices up front. Adrenaline suits gift buyers who want a flexible present and travelers comparing adventure activities across US destinations. Someone who wants to deal with the operator directly, or who needs the cancellation terms before paying, should read the individual listing carefully first.