Flights to La Jara, Colorado from NT$19,177

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasant experience if you prepare well enough. Check out these handy tips and tricks that will help get your La Jara escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Traveling on a plane can be a cruisy experience if you bring the right things. Firstly, you'll want a few toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and some deodorant, a spare pair of socks and a good novel. Secondly, find a spot in your hand luggage for your laptop, a charger, any vital medications and perhaps a neck pillow too. Lastly, and most importantly, don't forget to bring your passport, travel papers and your credit cards.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a Swiss Army knife lurking in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include flammable or explosive products, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and gels and liquids in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your priority when deciding what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a sensible option, as are flat, enclosed shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by prolonged inactivity, can be a risk on long-haul flights. Try to walk around the cabin or do some gentle exercises in your seat to improve your circulation.

The trick is to be well prepared before you arrive at security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to La Jara in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a flying start:

• Be sure to keep your ID and boarding pass easily accessible. They're the first items you'll be asked for by airport security.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Items such as your jacket, belt and earphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronic devices, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Remove all liquids and gels from your carry-on 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.
• The right choice of footwear can save you a few precious minutes. Hiking or heavy-style boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers are usually not.
• Airlines won't allow any sharp or pointed objects in your hand luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked luggage.