Flights to Khiri Mat, Sukhothai Province from NT$1,842

If you're not prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these helpful hints for a pain-free start to your getaway in Khiri Mat. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a stress-free travel experience is to pack in advance. First up, the essentials: passport, boarding pass, cash and important medications. Next, take on board items that'll help pass the time, like some electronic devices or a magazine. It's also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Finally, don't forget to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a pocket knife hiding in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive substances, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an airplane are no place for a fashion parade. Layer up with comfortable clothing and pick shoes that are closed-toe, flat and easy to take on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

The secret is to be well organized before you arrive at the airport security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Khiri Mat in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a great start:

• Have your boarding pass and passport close by. They're the first items you'll be asked to present to airport security.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronic devices, including your phone and tablet, must also be scanned separately.
• Any liquids or gels, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you valuable minutes. Boots and bulky shoes are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Slip-on sneakers are usually not.
• Take all prohibited items out of 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 and will be confiscated.