Bel Air, Mauritius

Bel Air is a sleepy coastal village with a population of just 1,000 - hardly the cosmopolitan hub many expats dream of. The village sits nestled in a bay, with the Rivière des Creoles river flowing nearby, but the tranquility comes with trade-offs. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the village is administratively part of the larger Grand Port district. And while the "good air" and breezy views of the bay are pleasant, the remote location means access to modern amenities and entertainment is limited. Petit Bel Air is best suited for those seeking a quiet, slow-paced retirement, not ambitious professionals looking to build an exciting new life abroad.