You will be fine

AirBNB, Agoda, are two sites to check with. AirBNB aren't technically legal so you may want to use them, if you have to extend your visa, while staying there.

I paid 3900 to do border bounce

My agent charges a bit more to do the visa extension. It seems counter intuitative, but it is what it is.

I am also on METV. I do border-bounces every 60 days and skip the extension.

You can do both yourself, if you want to save the money.

There are now a few other visa options available and supposedly when you stamp-in on visa exempt you get 60 days, so there doesn't seem to be a benefit to the METV, but I am still using it, when I stamp in this weekend I will use my METV and not visa exempt. I am waiting for the dust to clear before I figure out my next visa. (nobody seems to know what is require to get an extension).

In my opinion Pattaya immigration is crooked which explains why extension are so expensive.

My visa Agent is on Pattaya Beach Road, Soi 6. They're in The Victorian (the only respectable establishment on that road).

They always have different requirements... This is Thialand... There will be no easy way.

@Matthew *********

Thank You!

Most use Wise.

I have insurance through my company which is mostly useless. I think maybe it will help in emergencies, but I think there is a clause "If out of the USA for more than 30 days" so I really don't trust it.

I have had some minor medical stuff done over the years. Doctor's visits are pretty cheap here (compared to the US) so I don't bother with insurance.

Teaching English or SCUBA instructor are the two most common foreign held jobs.

Judging by your writing you're probably qualified to teach at a government school, if you have the credentials. I am not making a joke teaching in government schools is about the illusion and not about the skill. They hire you based on the fact that you know pretty good English and you look like a foreigner.

"photography and videography", are probably jobs reserved for Thais, which means you couldn't open a business or advertise openly but you could do a side hustle videoing people from your country (or your language skill set).

$1000 will be the most difficult part. Simply you will need more, probably. If that is enough to get you here you could go live at a temple but that isn't a good idea.

@Don *****

Yeah.. "good", "evil" ... This is a Thailand Visa advice site.. Get a hold of yourself man.

It depends where are you?

In Pattaya there are a couple of places and I know a lady who has helped me in a couple of difficult visa situations.