Flights to San Juan, Central Visayas from NT$3,700

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these tips and tricks and enjoy a hassle-free start to your vacation in San Juan. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First things first, pack your passport, official ID, wallet and daily medications. Next, you'll want some in-flight entertainment to while away the time. A juicy book and a laptop crammed with your favorite movies are some fantastic options. If you hope to catch forty winks, a quality neck pillow and some earplugs will also be useful. Finally, make room for a few toiletry items to ensure you arrive looking fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of prohibited items differs between airlines, the general guide to follow is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, knives, fuel and fireworks. Sporting equipment like ice skates, and items that could harm other people, such as firearms and ammunition, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your number one priority when choosing what to wear during your flight. Loose, breathable clothing is a sensible option, as are flat, enclosed shoes.
• Caused by lengthy periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clotting condition that can affect some passengers during long-distance flights. Lower your risks by staying hydrated, keeping your legs and ankles moving and wearing compression socks to help your circulation.

The secret is to be organized before you get to security. That way, you'll be stepping onto that plane to San Juan in no time at all. Follow these helpful tips and get your vacation off to a great start:

• First things first. Your boarding pass and passport will need to be shown to airport security personnel. Keep them within easy reach so you don't have to dig around for them.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings such as your belt, coat and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Your electronic devices like laptops and phones will also have to go on a tray for inspection. Don't worry though, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Any gels or liquids, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several precious minutes. Hiking boots are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked luggage.