Flights to Germantown, Maryland from NT$28,575

If you're poorly prepared, traveling can be testing. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these useful tips and enjoy a comfortable start to your vacation in Germantown. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a great flight experience is to be prepared. First up, the essentials: passport, official ID, bank cards and daily medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you busy, like some electronic gadgets or a few magazines. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Last but not least, don't forget to squeeze in toiletry items like a toothbrush, lip balm and a fresh change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have sharp objects (like a knife or scissors) hiding in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive goods, such as fuel and fireworks, and gels and liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by wearing layers, and pick flat, slightly roomy footwear like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport will help make your getaway to Germantown a breeze. We've compiled some useful tips for a swift journey past security:

• Be sure to keep your boarding pass and passport within easy reach. They'll be the first things 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 set the alarms off. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Electronic devices like phones and laptops will also have to go on a tray for inspection. Don't worry though, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually 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 in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll need to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a wise idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you must bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked luggage.