Flights to Cerritos, Pereira from NT$63,342

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be tough. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these handy hints for a pleasant start to your getaway in Cerritos. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First, pack your passport, travel docs, bank cards and vital medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A thrilling book and a tablet filled with your favorite movies are good options. If you hope to catch a few z's, a neck pillow and some noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, make room for a few toiletry items so you'll hop off the plane feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have sharp or pointed objects hiding in your hand luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable substances, like aerosols and matches, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Choose comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by layering up, and opt for easy-to-remove shoes like slip-ons.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To lower your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression tights or socks and move your legs and feet often.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you get to the airport security gate. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Cerritos before you know it. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a great start:

• First things first. Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be shown to airport security personnel. Have them easily accessible so you don't hold up the queue.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Items such as your belt, jacket and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic devices will also need to go through the scanner.
• Can't travel without your favorite cologne? Not a problem. As long as the volume is no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and it's stored in a zip-lock bag, you can bring it with you on board.
• The right choice of footwear can save you valuable minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Pocket knives and other sharp items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be seized at security, so pack them in your checked suitcase.