A survey recently revealed things dearest to a woman's heart -- and sex didn't come in first!

Taking your lady for a trip away from home will certainly earn you some brownie points, because heading off on holiday is a far bigger turn-on for women than sex.

A trip away topped a poll to find the most exciting things in a woman's life, followed by becoming a mum.

Romping with a loved one was third, followed by a pay rise and backing a winner on the horses in fifth.

Conducted by horseracing promotion body Racing For Change, the study surveyed 4,000 housewives.

"We wanted to poll women to find out what in life most excites them, and we've found that it's a whole range of things," the Daily Star quoted a spokesman as saying.

"From sex and pay rises, to winning money on the horses and romantic nights away, there's lots to excite the lives of women. But escaping the humdrum of daily life and relaxing and sunning yourself by the pool on holiday topped the list," added the spokesman.

Rounding up the top 10 were romantic nights away, their wedding day, Christmas Day, a girls' night out and passing the driving test.

Seven in 10 of those polled agreed that "the best things in life are free".

However, a whopping 83 percent admitted that they could do with more excitement in their life.