Le Sereno, a Chic, Beachfront Hotel in St. Barth's

Surrounded by swaying palm trees and set on a pristine swath of the secluded Grand Cul de Sac beach in St. Barth's, Le Sereno is one of the chicest hotels in the Caribbean—and perhaps the chicest. A true bit of French flair in the Caribbean, sans the attitude. Go there if you want laid-back luxury and a romantic getaway—a grown up Blue Lagoon experience of sorts; don't bother bringing the kids.

The all-suite hotel opened in 2005 to rave reviews for the decor and furnishings from renowned Parisian designer Christian Liaigre, who has a lovely boutique in the island's posh Gustavia shopping district. His look is minimalist, yet everything is comfortable, and the 37 suites and villas are stunning in their simplicity, mostly white with teak slatted windows, tropical wood furnishings and floors, and spacious bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. So as not to detract from the surrounding natural beauty, Liaigre's done up the rooms with earthy materials and muted tones, and they all have large, louvered doors that open up to private decks overlooking the lagoon. 

"Le Sereno is located on one of the island's most beautiful beaches," says Minou Weber, a native of Luxembourg who owns a villa near the hotel. "It's a great spot for jet skiing, snorkeling and kite surfing. The hotel staff is friendly and I often dine on fresh seafood at Pêcheurs, their stylish restaurant. An insider tip is that Sereno is now the best place for doing weddings in St. Barth's."

If you want extra space and privacy, book the one-bedroom Villa du Pêcheur, which has its own plunge pool; all rooms have iPod docking stations and flat-screen TVs, but honestly you won't spend too much time indoors! Instead, head to the hotel's best feature—its huge and gorgeous freshwater pool, long enough for getting in some laps. You can lounge there all day with a pre-programmed iPod borrowed from reception, then don your most fashionable caftan (or a pastel linen shirt for the boys) and stroll over to the bar for sunset cocktails.