The Oasis Hotel offers a heck of a lot for $9.20! I suppose they make money because everything they need to run the hotel is also cheaper, like everything in Chiang Mai.
I wonder if you've ever seen seventies' British sitcom, Fawlty Towers. As someone who owned a small hotel, you might enjoy it. Each episode features touchy hotel manager, Basil Fawlty, played by an explosive John Cleese, at the top of his comedy game, slowly but surely getting wound up by the staff and hotel guests until at the end of each episode, he absolutely loses it! There were only 12 episodes ever made, but each one is a politically incorrect comedy master class.
Looking at 20 properties sounds like a lot of effort, but for such a consequential decision, a little extra effort now will save you money and heartache later. Just don't rent from any guy who looks like John Cleese. :)
i remember that show coming on PBS when i was a kid. I was tuning in for Dr. Who and never watched an episode. I will now, thanks to you :)