Flights to Cuts, Hauts-de-France from NT$18,377

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be daunting. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these tips and tricks for a pain-free start to your vacation in Cuts. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Air travel can be a stress-free experience if you bring the right gear. Firstly, you'll want a few basic toiletries, such as lip balm and hand cream, a fresh change of clothes and a good read. Next, leave space in your carry-on bag for your electronic devices, chargers, your important medications and perhaps a comfy neck pillow as well. Lastly, and most importantly, don't forget to bring your passport, travel documents and your bank cards.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of restricted items differs between airlines, the general guide to follow is avoid carrying anything flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, pocket knives, aerosol cans and flares. Sports equipment like ice skates, and items that could injure passengers, such as firearms and ammunition, aren't allowed in the cabin either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft aren't the place for a fashion parade. Layer up with comfortable clothing and choose shoes that are enclosed, flat and easy to pull on and off.
• You've probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of sitting. To lower your risk on board, stay hydrated, consider wearing compression socks or tights and move your lower limbs often.

The trick is to be well prepared before you reach airport security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Cuts in next to no time. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a spectacular start:

• Your boarding pass and passport will need to be presented to security personnel. Keep them someplace accessible so you don't have to dig around for them.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Items like your belt, jacket and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few moments, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, tablet and any other electronic gadgets will also need to go through the scanner.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There's a good chance you'll be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Airlines won't allow any pocket knives or other sharp items in your hand luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked luggage.