12,000 baht a night is a fortune for a hotel - or did you mean 1200?
CM and the north have plenty to do and many g/h hotels that are quite reasonable - the nature surrounds - you might enjoy some time in Pai - on the road from CM -MHS would sound to be right - some nice hot springs nearby - and yet well equipt to handle travelers - and not expensive - nightly musc in a couple of places - have fun - go up to Chiang Rai - sort of a smaller more cooled out version of CM - I think not too much doing in Isaan - it is quite dry and flat -
CM and the north have plenty to do and many g/h hotels that are quite reasonable - the nature surrounds - you might enjoy some time in Pai - on the road from CM -MHS would sound to be right - some nice hot springs nearby - and yet well equipt to handle travelers - and not expensive - nightly musc in a couple of places - have fun - go up to Chiang Rai - sort of a smaller more cooled out version of CM - I think not too much doing in Isaan - it is quite dry and flat -