Flights to Montargis, Centre-Loire Valley from NT$18,018

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these handy hints and enjoy a comfortable start to your time in Montargis. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an awesome travel experience is to pack in advance. Start with the essentials: passport, official ID, credit cards and any vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help pass the time, like some electronic devices or a good read. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. Last but not least, be sure to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp objects (like a knife or scissors) hiding in your carry-on luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable goods, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and gels and liquids 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 comfy clothing and go for shoes that are closed-toe, flat and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport will make your trip to Montargis a breeze. Read through our handy tips for a speedy journey past security:

• Security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid passport and travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Have them close by, ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your belt, jacket, keys and other contents of your pockets, like coins, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as it gets closer to your turn.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, tablet and any other electronics will need to go through the scanner.
• Remember to remove liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. 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 single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• It's also likely that you'll need to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a wise idea.
• Airlines won't allow any sharp objects in your hand luggage. If you must bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked baggage.