Find the beach
Getting to Krating Lai Beach
How to reach the beach fire show on Krating Lai Beach: the meeting-point map, the yellow sign at the turning, baht buses, taxis and when to set off.
Book a seat by the fire ↗Quick answer
Use the meeting-point map on your booking and travel by songthaew, the shared pick-up trucks Pattaya calls baht buses, or by taxi. At the turning from the main road, look for a yellow sign with the restaurant's name, then follow the map into the side street to the beach. Set off early enough to arrive in daylight, because seats go first come, first served.
Where the show is
The fire show belongs to a beachfront restaurant on Krating Lai Beach in Pattaya. From its tables you look across the water to the Sanctuary of Truth and the lights of Laem Chabang port. Pattaya lies on the Gulf of Thailand's eastern shore, in Bang Lamung district of Chonburi province, and the city spreads along a series of beaches. Rather than relying on directions in words, open the meeting-point pin on your booking in Google Maps and save it before you leave your hotel.
The yellow sign
The restaurant sits on a side street off the main road. The directions on the booking are simple: from the main street, look for the yellow sign with the restaurant's name, then follow the map into the side street. If you are in a vehicle, show the driver the pin and ask to be dropped at the turning by the sign. The last stretch is short, and walking it gives you a first look at the beach before you choose your seat. Keep the voucher open on your phone as you arrive, so the hosts can find your package quickly.
By baht bus
City and suburban trips in Pattaya run mainly on songthaews, popularly nicknamed baht buses. A songthaew is a pick-up or larger truck with two benches fixed along the sides of the back, a roof overhead and often a platform at the rear for standing passengers. Inside towns most follow set routes at a fixed fare, so they suit you best if your route follows the main roads. For a beach on a side street, it is worth showing the driver your map before you climb in.
By taxi
A taxi is the simplest choice for groups, especially if you have booked a sofa for four to six and want to arrive together. Agree the destination by showing the map pin rather than spelling the beach's name, which appears in more than one romanisation, and ask to be dropped at the yellow sign. For the ride home, keep the same pin and the restaurant's name on your phone. Pre-booked private transfers also serve Pattaya if you are coming from further away.
When to set off
Aim to arrive in the early evening, while it is still light. Places are handed out in order of arrival, so an early start wins you a table nearest the sand and also gives you the sunset over the water. Check the start time on your booking page and voucher for your date, then allow for Pattaya's evening traffic. Arriving late does not cost you the show, which lasts about 20 to 30 minutes after dinner, but it may cost you the best view of it.
Read next: Couple seat or sofa: which to book
Accessibility and what to carry
The venue is wheelchair accessible, and hosts speak English and Thai. The tables are on the beachfront, so tell the staff on arrival if you need a spot with easy access. The evening is open-air, with seating under a roof, and the show continues in light rain. Bring light clothes for a warm evening, shoes you do not mind getting sandy, and a charged phone for the map, the voucher and the photos.
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