If you're in the mood to feel swanky, soothed and downright sensational, it's time to make a jaunt to Saint Barthelemy. A mini version of Paris in its own right, this French West Indies isle is the place to see and be seen, thanks to its rapport as a favorite destination for the jet set and tres chic elite. With an island guest list that reads like a roster from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, it's the choice vacation spot for David Letterman, P. Diddy, Mariah Carey, Uma Thurman and more. It's also capable of making average joes feel just as glamorous, so read on and you'll know where to stay and play like the star that you are.

If you travel from Miami, St. Barths is just a hop, skip and jump away - you'll arrive after two plane trips totaling about three hours. And yes, the rumors are indeed true; the landing in St. Barths after the 10-minute plane ride from St. Maarten is an adventurous one. In fact, expect to see the treetops outside your window as the plane clears a hill before dropping down to the runway. I consider this plunge rather exhilarating, but for the less audacious, you can always ride the ferry from St. Maarten.

Upon arrival, take in the sapphire waters surrounding the island. Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, St. Barths offers not only therapeutic sights, but also excellent diving and sailing. You'll also behold a vision of lush and verdant hilly landscapes, as the island is rich in fauna and Crayola-colored flowers thanks to its dry and tropical climate. The weather is usually pleasant, with temperatures generally ranging from 76 to 82 degrees and the waters have an average temperature of 75 degrees making them perfect for swimming year round.

While high season falls during the winter holidays (mid-December to early January), I found visiting the island during the low-season month of June surprisingly satisfying. Even though your chances of rubbing elbows with a celebrity is less likely, the restaurants and hotels aren't as crowded and the sales in downtown Gustavia are downright outrageous (more on that morsel later). Plus, there's no denying that hotel rooms carry high prices, so if you're on a budget, do look into an off-season stay because rates can drop as much as a whopping 50 percent.

On this particular St. Barth spree, I stayed at the pristine and intimate Hotel Isle de France. In addition to being one of the most luxurious properties on the island, the hotel is part of the FOLIO collection, making its Isle de France Club one of the world's most exclusive shared-ownership opportunities in the world. The hotel also happens to be situated alongside one of the island's most treasured places, Flamands Beach, known for its silken sands. For added panache, the property boasts the renowned nouvelle cuisine restaurant La Case de l'Isle, The Spa (created by the one-and-only Molton Brown) and a ritzy boutique. My quarters consisted of a mesmeric two-bedroom Fisherman's Cottage outfitted with a kitchenette, airy living room, private garden, plunge pool and linens supple enough to please even the most discerning globetrotters.

Should you tire of the sun and sand (mind you, visitors can reveal as much, or as little, as they wish), it's best to hit horseshoe-shaped Gustavia - the capitol and beating heart of St. Barth. Here you will discover a mini Champs Elysée with a Caribbean soupeon. The who's who of fashion - Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton Roberto Cavalli are omnipresent, but so are local shops. I splurged at Calypso (where I found - gasp! - a Missoni gown for a mere 80 euros and a Chloé blouse for a feeble 50!) thanks to my visiting during the Hades days of summer. (Note to reader: perhaps this tidbit alone will convince you to go during the off season.) Other neighborhood faves include Lolita Jaca (amazing BoHo wear), La Pinta (home of saporous Vanilla Rum) and Ligne St. Barths (superb skin-care goodies galore). A-listers love to max out their AmEx cards here in glamorous Gustavia, and you surely will too.

When it comes to dining, St. Barths' restaurants are a true culinary delight. In keeping with a sense of French savoir vivre, it's also safe to say that the island's spate of dining options surpass that of any other Caribbean destination. Wine connoisseurs will also be particularly pleased, as wine lists on the island are excessive in choices. So indulge in a rack of ribs and frites at the beachside Hotel Isle de France's La Case de l'Isle. Be sure to order up a grilled langoustine at the pink-and-purple profusion that is La Plage. Indulge in pad thai and spring rolls at La Mandala and celebrate with a bottle of bubbly a la New Year's Eve in gay Paris at The Eden Rock's On-the-Rocks Restaurant & Tapas Bar. And do pay the legendary hilltop hotspot Le Ti St. Barth a visit - dress up in one of the boutique's burlesque costumes and allow your zany alter ego to let loose.

So while St. Barths feels more like a small town in the south of France than an island in the Caribbean, it remains the place where the sleek and chic meet. You can spend the day at the beach, try on the latest French fashions, watch the sun set over Gustavia Harbour or stargaze by the shore. You can putter around the island, search the shops, scuba dive, windsurf or just admire the Lilliputian hillsides. It's a teensy slice of paradise found - and it just so happens Brad Pitt is a fellow St. Barths believer as well.