Flights to Maple Heights, Cleveland from NT$29,516

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be testing. But there's no need to worry. Follow these handy tips and enjoy a comfortable start to your vacation in Maple Heights. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First of all, pack in your passport, travel docs, credit cards and medications. Next, you'll want some extra in-flight entertainment to help pass the time. A juicy novel and a laptop crammed with your favorite movies are always good options. If you plan to catch forty winks, a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs will also be useful. Finally, find room for a toothbrush and some deodorant to ensure you touchdown looking and feeling fresh.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Put all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hairspray in your checked luggage. Any liquids in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated by security. Sharp or pointed objects, like your treasured pocket knife, and products which are flammable or explosive, such as flares, bleaching agents and gasoline, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by wearing layers, and wear flat, easy-to-remove footwear like slip-ons.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance 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 socks or tights.

As seasoned travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you reach security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Maple Heights in a flash. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a terrific start:

• Security personnel first need to determine that you have a valid passport and boarding pass before anything else. Have them in your hand, ready for inspection.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings such as your belt, jacket and earphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your laptop, phone and any other electronic devices will need to go through the scanner.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each product 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-close bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you a few precious minutes. Hiking boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on shoes are usually not.
• Knives and other sharp items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked bags.