Flights to São Francisco, São Francisco do Sul from NT$3,623

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these handy hints for a pleasant start to your vacation in São Francisco. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a stress-free travel experience is to be prepared. First up, the essentials: passport, travel docs, bank cards and daily medications. Next, take on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a magazine. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Last but not least, don't forget to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, lip balm and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife hiding in your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable goods, such as aerosol cans and fuel, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Your main priority is to feel as comfortable as you can. Go for slip-on footwear, dress in loose, breathable clothing and remember to bring a pullover in case it gets chilly in the cabin.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by prolonged inactivity, can be a risk on long-haul flights. Try to walk around the cabin and stretch your legs or do some simple exercises in your seat to improve your circulation.

A little pre-planning before you get to the airport can make your trip to São Francisco easy and painless. Below you'll find some useful tips for a speedy journey past security:

• Be sure to keep your boarding pass and ID easily accessible. They'll be the first things you'll be asked to present to security.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Items such as your jacket, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, are also required to be scanned separately.
• Any gels or liquids, such as lip balm or cologne, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several precious minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on sneakers are usually not.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, pack them in your checked baggage. They won't be allowed on board and will be confiscated.