Flights to Astana, Kazakhstan from NT$16,193

We've pulled together all the info you need to make your journey a stress-free experience. Follow our tips and tricks and you'll be breezing through the airport and having a blast in Astana in next to no time. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a stress-free travel experience is to pack ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, bank cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like your laptop or a juicy novel. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, be sure to chuck in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife hiding in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable products, such as bleach and fuel, and gels and liquids in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when deciding what to wear on board. Loose clothing is a smart choice, as are enclosed shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by extended periods of inactivity, can be a risk on long-haul flights. Try to wander around the cabin or do some gentle exercises in your seat to improve your circulation.

The trick is to be prepared before you get to airport security. That way, you'll be stepping onto that plane to Astana in no time at all. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a flying start:

• Security personnel first need to make sure that you have a valid passport and travel documents before anything else. Have them ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, coat, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your headphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make your life easier by removing them before your turn arrives.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic devices will also need to go through the scanner.
• Remove all liquids and gels from your carry-on luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a sensible footwear choice as you're less likely to be asked to remove them when going through security. Hiking boots and heavier-style shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked luggage.