Flights to Nottawa, Clearview from NT$6,191

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be challenging. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these handy tips and enjoy a comfortable start to your getaway in Nottawa. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, pack your passport, official ID, wallet and medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy novel and a laptop crammed with your favorite shows are some fantastic options. If you plan to catch up on some sleep, a comfy neck pillow and some noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, find room for a toothbrush and some deodorant to ensure you step off the plane feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp or pointed objects hiding in the bottom of your carry-on luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable goods, such as bleach and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an airplane aren't the place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and go for shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to take on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

A little pre-planning before your flight will make your getaway to Nottawa a piece of cake. Here are some top tips for a stress-free journey past security:

• Your boarding pass and passport will need to be shown to security personnel. Keep them someplace accessible so you don't hold up the line.
• Next up, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Items like your coat, belt and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each item should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a clever footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when going through security. Big boots and other heavy shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Sharp items like knives are prohibited in the cabin. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked luggage.