Flights to Atlas, Rockport from NT$5,550

Depending on where you're coming from, your journey to Atlas could be no sweat at all or it could drag on forever. Here are some useful travel tips that will help you start your next great adventure on a positive note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free flight experience is to pack ahead. First up, the essentials: passport, travel documents, credit cards and medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you busy, like some electronic gadgets or a magazine. It's also smart to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, be sure to chuck in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife lurking in one of the zippers of your carry-on luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable products, like aerosols and matches, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by donning layers, and pick closed-toe, flat shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

The trick is to be well prepared before you arrive at security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Atlas in no time at all. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a terrific start:

• Be sure to have your ID and boarding pass at hand. They're the first items you'll be asked for by airport security.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings such as your jacket, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Any liquids or gels, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a practical footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when passing through security. Hiking boots and other bulky shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Avoid taking prohibited items in your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, pack them safely away in your checked luggage. They won't be allowed on board.