Flights to Ibajay, Western Visayas from NT$1,218

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be a real challenge. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these helpful hints for a trouble-free start to your time in Ibajay. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a worry-free flight experience is to be prepared. Start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, cash and daily medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you occupied, like some electronic devices or a good book. It's also wise to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Last but not least, be sure to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a pocket knife hiding in the bottom of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable products, such as bleach and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by donning layers, and opt for flat, enclosed footwear like slip-ons.
• Most of us have heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by prolonged periods of sitting. To minimize your risk on board, stay hydrated, consider wearing compression tights or socks and move your legs and feet often.

The answer is — be prepared. We've pulled together some helpful hints for a hassle-free trip through airport security. Look out Ibajay, here you come:

• Be sure to keep your travel documents and passport easily accessible. They're the first things you'll be asked to show at security.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings such as your coat, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as lip balm or cologne, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several minutes. Boots and bulky shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on shoes are usually not.
• Knives and other sharp items are not allowed on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked bags.