sun salutations; This season brings four breathtaking resorts to the Caribbean.

Byline: Richard Alleman

The glamorous resorts of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean may have been the talk of the travel world recently, but this season's big story is much closer to home, as a number of stylish properties make their debuts in the Caribbean. These new island hideaways promise the style and luxury of their Asian counterparts with one major difference: You don't have to fly halfway around the world to enjoy them.

There's an appealing minimalist feel to the reborn Le Sereno resort, opening this month on the ever-chic French Caribbean island of St. Barth's. Tucked away on a palmy stretch of Grand Cul-de-Sac Beach, Le Sereno's 37 cool suites and villas sport sleek teak floors and decks, beautiful bathrooms with square black-marble sinks, and, in most, outdoor showers-all the work of acclaimed Parisian designer Christian Liaigre, who has a home and a showroom on the island. Despite their Zen-like simplicity, these accommodations come fully equipped with wireless Internet access, plasma TVs, personal iPods, and iPod docking stations. A romantic ocean-side restaurant will specialize in seafood, both local and specially flown in from France. Doubles from about $720, through April 16; (590) 590-29-83-00; lesereno.com.

Boasting one of the most beautiful beachscapes in the Caribbean-some eighteen miles of uninterrupted powdery-pink sands-the small British West Indian island of Barbuda lies 25 miles north of its larger sister Antigua. With no paved roads and only a handful of hotels, Barbuda's longtime star attraction has been Krizia fashion doyenne Mariuccia Mandelli's exclusive K Club, a favorite escape for the late Princess Diana. This year, K Club has a smart new rival in The Beach House, whose 21 suites feature not only crisp minimalist design but sublime pampering. Each comes with its own personal Service Ambassador to assist you in everything from your complimentary welcome massage to a private picnic or perhaps a horseback ride down that endless beach. Meals-grilled lobster and fresh-made pastas prepared by Italian chef Andrea ...