The best beaches are on Koh Larn, an island just off the coast, a short ferry ride from Pattaya. Main land Pattaya, I like the A-One hotel chain. Also, LK Emerald Beach, in Naklua was great, on the beach, and one of the better be beaches in Pattaya.
If you open a Bangkok Bank account, you can (or at least I can), transfer direct from some US accounts to Bangkok Bank, at a great rate. Because Bangkok Bank has a branch in NYC.
What I do is stay in Thailand 2 months or so on Multiple Entry Tourist Visa. Go back USA for a couple of months. Thus, my December Entry was my 3d Entry for 2022. No questions, no problems yet. Going into 2d year of this schedule.
1st things 1st. Slow Down. You only visited Thailand one time. Visit Thailand several more times on a Tourist Visa (60 Days) or Visa Exempt. Get to know the country and the people, a lot more, for a couple of years. Save your money and slow down.
Book now, with an online site which states free cancellation, until a few days before your stay. Sometimes, your credit is not even charged until a week or so before your stay. Make sure this is clearly stated. I find Agoda has the best rates in Thailand, and I never had a problem with canceling and refunds, when it was provided for.
I had a great time chilling on the beach, watching the fireworks in Pattaya. Did Patong, Phuket one year, way way too many people, in too small a space.