how many million Thai tourists would travel to each of Australia, the UK and the EU countries and are those countries reliant on tourism for 20% of their GDP ?
Most ATM machines in Thailand charge a fee regardless of which card you use. Is the card issuer offering rebates on fees charged or just no added fees ? I'm not aware of having seen AMEX accepted at businesses outside Bangkok (maybe at large hotels they will accept but not at local businesses)
Also Pattaya isnt where i would take my kids for a year unless work forced me to. Our 2 bedroom luxury condo in Hua hin with pool gym and 24 hr security that is walking distance to restaurants and bars and about half a mile from a shopping centre with western supermarket and is only $1000 USD a month
It is my humble opinion (that i am entitled to) that you are about to utterly waste a large sum of money to stay in a hotel when there are far more luxurious options for far less money available on the local villa rental market. Each to their own i guess.
I have lived in Bangkok, Hua Hin, and the tourist islands and I can confidently say their are no retail branches of these American banks anywhere in those places