Fossi in te scriverei cosi.
Codice PHP:
<select name="nummax" onblur="check_num()" ><?php
for ($i=3; $i <=20 ; $i++) {
$j = $i-2;
$selected = $res['nummaxospiti']==$i ? "selected" : "";?>
<option value="<?php print $j; ?>" <?php print $selected; ?>><?php print $i; ?></option><?php
}?>
</select>