Hi, Cooperspooky!
Just some more info:
There are minibuses leaving from U-Tapao airport for Pattaya for only 150 baht, but if you don't hurry out of the airport they might leave you behind, they go when full and if you are left alone you must take a taxi or wait for the next flight with new passengers and take the minibus with them instead!
About beaches I agree that the beach in Pattaya is not that wide and when it is high tide the water goes all the way up to the sun-chairs. The baht-bus to Jomthien beach is only 10 baht from the bus-stop outside the school in South Pattaya. The beach is much wider here and at low tide there is plenty of space to walk around, I think the beach is nearly 10 km long! Many tourists will just jump of as the streets turns left when it reaches the beach and stay there which make this part very crowded, but if you turn right here(or continue with the bus for another 2-3 kms), and continue to walk past Pattaya Park the beach is more quiet and at regular intervals along the beach there are areas where beach chairs are now forbidden, so you can just lay yourself down on your own towel and enjoy the sun without having to pay for chairs. About the water quality it is much clearer now than at my first visit 19 years ago when it was very murky and you would sink down to your knees in the muddy bottom! During the winter season (Dec-March) and when the winds blows from land the water isn't bad at all, but still might have some garbage floating ashore when the wind blows the waves towards the beach! If you want white sand coral beaches and blue water you just take the boat to Koh Larn Island just half an hour away and 20 bath for the one way trip, leaves from the new pier at the end of Walking Street. Here is more info:
http://kohlarn.com/index1.htm
Pattaya is quite a big place and takes more than a few days to cover! Cheers!
plahgat