Flights to Sint Maarten, North Holland from NT$17,354

We've rounded up all the info you need to make your flight as pain-free as possible. Follow our tips and you'll be cruising through airport security and having a ball in Sint Maarten before you know it. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, pack in your passport, travel docs, credit cards and medications. Next, you'll want some entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a laptop crammed with your favorite movies are good options. If you hope to take a quick snooze, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, leave space for a few toiletry items to ensure you arrive at your destination feeling fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have a sharp object lurking in one of the zippers of your carry-on luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable goods, like aerosols and matches, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an airplane are no place for a fashion parade. Wear layers and choose shoes that are flat, roomy and easy to remove.
• The result of lengthy periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clotting condition that can affect passengers on long-haul flights. Lower your risks by staying hydrated, keeping your lower limbs moving and wearing compression socks to help your circulation.

A little pre-planning before your flight can make your getaway to Sint Maarten a pleasure. Read through our handy tips for a stress-free journey past security:

• First things first. Your travel documents and ID will need to be shown to airport security. Keep them someplace accessible so you don't have to dig around for them.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and earphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your laptop, phone and any other electronics must also be sent through the scanner.
• Remove all liquids and gels from your carry-on luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each item should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you a few precious minutes. Boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on shoes are usually not.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked suitcase. They won't be allowed on board and will be confiscated.