Flights to Hanalei, Hawaii from NT$4,020

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be tough. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these tips and tricks and enjoy a hassle-free start to your vacation in Hanalei. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having an awesome flight experience is to pack in advance. Start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like your laptop or a good book. It's also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Last but not least, don't forget to chuck in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a spare set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items differs between air carriers, the general rule to follow is nothing sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, knives, fireworks and fuel. Sporting equipment like ice skates, and objects that could harm passengers, such as pepper spray and firearms, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by wearing layers, and wear closed-toe, flat shoes like sneakers.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To lessen your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression tights or socks and move your legs and feet often.

It's simple — be prepared. We've put together some handy tips and tricks for a fuss-free trip through airport security. Watch out Hanalei, here you come:

• Airport security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid ID and boarding pass before you can proceed any further. Keep them within easy reach.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Items like your coat, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic devices will also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each item should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll be required to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Sharp or pointed items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them safely away in your checked luggage.