easy to get to, shorter routes there, certainly quicker getting there than an island. Sattahip not far at all with all the flyovers, 20 mins from Sukhumvit top of Thepprasit, anyway don't go, it's much better with no tourists
If you have as much money as you say then for self insuring you don't need to transfer all the money to Thailand, takes seconds for money from Wise to settle in a thai bank account
waterfalls yippee, you can do all those things except waterfalls around Pattaya. I've done enough waterfalls for a lifetime, they get boring like temples