Places to stay in Koh Phangan? (specific areas, or resorts/bungalows?)?

I think the best beach is Hat Khom, on the north side of the island. The Hat Khom resort is there and also the coconut beach bungalows (www.coconutbeach-bungalows.com). There is nice snorkeling in the area and the staff at both places are very friendly and accommodating. Most people i met there had ended up staying longer than they anticipated. Hat Rin is where all the action is, so if you want lots of travelers and bars, go there. Hat Yuan, Hat Thian Nai, and Hat Wai Nam are three beaches that you can reach only by boat from Hat Rin. All three are connected by a foot path over some hills. Hat Yuan is the most developed of the three and Wai Nam the least. There is a hippie-ish place on Hat Thian called The Sanctuary www.thesanctuary-kpg.com (overpriced if you ask me). The surf can get a little rough at all three beaches and they are a bit rocky, not the best for swimming or snorkelling. I have also heard that there are some areas on the Northwest corner that have good snorkeling.