Flights to Kaohsiung, Taiwan from NT$2,800

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be a real challenge. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these handy tips for a hassle-free start to your time in Kaohsiung. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an amazing flight experience is to pack in advance. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and any vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help while away those hours, like some electronic devices or a thrilling book. It's also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Finally, don't forget to chuck in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a spare set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked luggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated by security. Sharp objects, like your treasured Swiss Army knife, and products which are flammable or explosive, such as flares, chemicals agents and strong acids, are also not allowed.

What to wear on a flight:

• Your aim here is to feel as comfortable as possible. Pick flat, closed-toe shoes, dress in loose, natural-fiber clothing and don't forget to take a sweater in case it gets chilly in the cabin.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport can make your getaway to Kaohsiung a pleasure. Below you'll find some handy tips and tricks for a swift journey past security:

• Keep your boarding pass and passport easily accessible. They'll be the first things you'll be asked for by security.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings like your jacket, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic devices, including your phone and laptop, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or hand cream, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• There's a good chance you'll be asked to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a good idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp objects in the cabin. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked luggage.