Flights to Monterrey, Alajuela Province from

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 the airport and having a ball in Monterrey before you know it. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an awesome travel experience is to be prepared. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and important medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you occupied, like some electronic devices or a good read. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Finally, be sure to chuck in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Squeeze all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner in your checked baggage. Any liquids in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) won't be allowed on. Pointed or sharp objects, like a Swiss Army knife, and dangerous products which are flammable or explosive, such as flares, chemicals agents and gasoline, are also banned.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when deciding what to wear on board. Loose, breathable clothing is a sensible option, as are flat, slip-on shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport will make your getaway to Monterrey a piece of cake. Below are some handy hints for a stress-free journey past security:

• Airport security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid passport and boarding pass before you're allowed to proceed any further. Have them within easy reach, ready for inspection.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Personal belongings such as your belt, coat and earphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your phone and laptop, are also required to be scanned.
• Remove liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There's a chance you'll be required to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Sharp or pointed items can't be taken on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so put them in your checked bags.