Flights to El Questro, Durack from NT$121,389

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be overwhelming. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these handy hints and enjoy a trouble-free start to your vacation in El Questro. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an awesome flight experience is to be prepared. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, official ID, credit cards and medications. Next, take on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a few magazines. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of earphones. And of course, be sure to squeeze in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a spare set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a pocket knife lurking in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive goods, such as fuel and fireworks, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane are no place for a fashion parade. Dress in comfortable layers and pick shoes that are flat, roomy and easy to remove.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you arrive at airport security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to El Questro in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a fantastic start:

• Airport security personnel first need to see that you have a valid passport and travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Keep them close by.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Personal belongings like your coat, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few moments, you'll have to unplug from the digital world. Your tablet, phone and any other electronics must also go through the scanner.
• Remember to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They usually 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.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several valuable minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on sneakers are usually not.
• Pocket knives and other sharp items are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked luggage.