Flights to Gurat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine from NT$26,349

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasant experience if you've prepared well enough. Follow these handy travel tips that will get your Gurat vacation started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a worry-free flight experience is to pack ahead. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, travel docs, credit cards and daily medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you busy, like your laptop or a thrilling book. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Last but not least, don't forget to pop 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 pocket knife hiding in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive products, such as bleach and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when deciding what to wear during your flight. Loose, breathable clothing is a wise choice, as are enclosed shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

A little pre-planning before you arrive at the airport will make your getaway to Gurat a pleasure. Here are some useful tips and tricks for a swift journey through security:

• Keep your ID and boarding pass easily accessible. They'll be the first things you'll be asked to present to airport security.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your coat, belt, keys and other small items, like your headphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process easier by removing them as it gets closer to your turn.
• All electronic gadgets, including your phone and laptop, must also be scanned.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or hand cream, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll be required to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a clever idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in your carry-on baggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.