Flights to El Guapote, Veintisiete de Abril from NT$19,781

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasant experience if you've prepared well. We've compiled a list of handy hints that will get your El Guapote vacation started on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First things first, put in your passport, travel documents, credit cards and vital medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to help pass the time. A juicy book and a laptop filled with your favorite shows are always good options. If you plan to catch forty winks, a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs will also be useful. Finally, find room for a toothbrush and some facial wipes to ensure you touchdown feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked luggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated by authorities. Sharp or pointed objects, like your treasured pocket knife, and products which are explosive or flammable, such as flares, chemicals agents and fireworks, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane aren't the place for a fashion parade. Dress in comfortable layers and opt for shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by extended periods of inactivity, can be a risk on long-haul flights. Try to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs or do some simple exercises in your seat to improve your circulation.

The secret is to be prepared before you get to airport security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to El Guapote in no time at all. Follow these helpful tips and get your vacation off to a spectacular start:

• Airport security personnel first need to determine that you have a valid ID and matching boarding pass before you can proceed any further. Have them within easy reach, ready for inspection.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings like your jacket, belt and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your tablet and phone, must also be scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to take on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• It's also likely that you'll need to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a wise idea.
• Pocket knives and other sharp items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be confiscated at security, so put them in your checked baggage.