The cold settles, the fire crackles in the fireplace ... Winter is here. no question for all that to be numb by the weather. The French prepare their holidays for the first quarter of 2017 and their choices of destinations are revealing.

Far away escapades for the winter holidays

No snow and even fewer caribou among the destinations most wanted by surfers for their next vacation. The 10 most popular destinations, according to a study conducted by TripAdvisor , look more like paradisiac postcards, with beaches of fine sand, sun and palm trees. The French want to travel to islands . There are 7 of the 10 most popular destinations in France. An understandable desire at the moment when the first cold ones are felt.

After the islands, the other big winner of this ranking is Thailand . The country ranks 3 destinations in this top 10. One reason: the attractive prices of this exotic destination that attracts more and more French.

In the midst of these sunny destinations, two "big" cities manage to get into the top 10: New York and Bangkok . On one side New York, the city where to savor for a few days the American dream , always attracts many travelers. On the other, Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and Asian megalopolis , where to appreciate the charm of the East.

Top 10 French destinations for winter holidays

1. Guadeloupe

2. Phuket in Thailand

3. The Martinique

4. Mauritius Island

5. The Dominican Republic

6. Ko Samui (Gulf of Thailand)

7. Bangkok in Thailand

8. New York

9. Tenerife (island of Spain)

10. Bali (Indonesia)