Flights to Samos, North Aegean Islands from

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be overwhelming. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these tips and tricks for a pain-free start to your vacation in Samos. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a hassle-free flight experience is to be prepared. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, official ID, bank cards and daily medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you busy, like your laptop or a thrilling book. You'll also want to pack your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. And of course, be sure to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have a Swiss Army knife lurking in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include flammable or explosive substances, such as fuel and fireworks, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your main priority when deciding what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a sensible option, as are flat, closed-toe shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance 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 tights or socks.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you get to security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Samos in the blink of an eye. Follow these helpful tips and get your vacation off to a great start:

• First things first. Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be shown to airport security personnel. Have them close by to avoid fumbling around for them.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your coat, belt, keys and other small items, like your headphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as it gets closer to your turn.
• For just a few moments, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic gadgets will need to go through the scanner.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each item should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll need to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a good idea.
• Sharp or pointed items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be seized at security, so pack them in your checked suitcase.