Flights to Laoag, Ilocos Region from NT$12,288

We've got the lowdown on how to make your journey as pain-free as possible. Follow our tips and tricks and you'll be hightailing it through airport security and enjoying Laoag in no time at all. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having an awesome travel experience is to plan ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, cash and any vital medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic gadgets or a juicy novel. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Finally, don't forget to chuck in toiletry items like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a pocket knife lurking in your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include flammable or explosive substances, 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:

• Comfort should be your top priority when choosing what to wear during your flight. Loose clothing is a sensible choice, as are flat, closed-toe shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

As seasoned travelers know, the secret is to be organized before you arrive at airport security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Laoag in no time at all. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a spectacular start:

• Security personnel first need to know that you have a valid passport and travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Have them in your hand, ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your belt, coat, keys and other items in your pocket, like your headphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make your life easier by removing them before your turn.
• All your electronics, including your phone and tablet, must also be separately scanned.
• 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 single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you valuable minutes. Hiking boots are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Knives and other sharp items are not allowed on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked suitcase.