As the festive season approaches, many French people will be taking a well-deserved break from home. While inflation has undoubtedly discouraged many, others will be taking off to spend Christmas or New Year's outside France. The tour operator Opodo has drawn up the top 10 destinations most booked by the French for the end of the year. "For their Christmas holidays, the majority of French people are still looking for mild temperatures with the city of Marrakech at the top of the list, and the excitement of the European capitals with Lisbon, London and Paris", notes the platform in its press release.
Top 10 most booked destinations
Marrakech
Lisbon
London
Tunis
Porto
Paris
Dakar
Rome
Madrid
Istanbul
Reservations were made well in advance for 32% of respondents, i.e. three months or more before departure, 38% between two and three months and 30% between one and two months.
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Sunny destinations are a dream come true
The most frequently searched for destinations on Opodo, but not synonymous with actual bookings, are the more remote and often sunny cities, which nevertheless require a larger budget. "New York and and London are back in force in the Top 3 of the most sought-after destinations by the French for the Christmas holidays, but in majority, it is the sunny destinations that make the French dream, including Bangkok in second place", underlines the tour operator.
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Top 10 most popular destinations
New York
Bangkok
London
Pointe-à-Pitre
Fort-de-France
Saint-Denis
Marrakech
Montreal
Dubai
Lisbon
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Changing habits?
While 52% of French people dream of going to a sunny destination for the festive season, 22% plan to spend it with friends rather than family and 9% see themselves travelling solo. Only 9% of those surveyed expressed the wish to spend Christmas in the traditional way.
For the French who will be celebrating the holidays with their family, 66% plan to do so abroad. 30% will organise a party with friends, while 16% will opt for a sports holiday and 12% may be tempted by a meditation retreat.
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