Flights to Tarragona, Catalonia from NT$5,373

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be daunting. But there's no need to worry. Follow these helpful hints for a hassle-free start to your vacation in Tarragona. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First, pack in your passport, official ID, credit cards and vital medications. Next, you'll want some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling novel and a phone crammed with your favorite movies are always good options. If you hope to catch a few z's, a comfy neck pillow and some noise-canceling headphones will also come in handy. Finally, squeeze in a few toiletry items so you'll hop off the plane looking fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked baggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated. Sharp objects, like your treasured pocket knife, and products which are explosive or flammable, such as spray paint, flares and poisons, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your priority when choosing what to wear on board. Loose clothing is a smart choice, as are roomy, closed-toe shoes.
• Most of us have heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by prolonged periods of sitting. To reduce your risk on board, drink plenty of water, consider wearing compression tights or socks and move your lower limbs often.

It's simple — be prepared. We've compiled some helpful hints for a fuss-free trip through security. Watch out Tarragona, here you come:

• Be sure to keep your boarding pass and passport at hand. They're the first items you'll be asked to present to airport security.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Personal belongings like your coat, belt and earphones need to go through the machine.
• All electronic devices, including your laptop and phone, must also be scanned separately.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your carry-on luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• It's also likely that you'll need to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a wise idea.
• 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 in the cabin.