Flights to Stratford, County Wicklow from NT$4,371

If you're not prepared, traveling can be tough. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these helpful hints for a pleasant start to your time in Stratford. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, put in your passport, official ID, bank cards and daily medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling novel and a tablet crammed with your favorite movies are some terrific options. If you hope to catch more than just forty winks, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs will also come in handy. Finally, make room for a few toiletry items to ensure you touchdown looking fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked luggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated by security. Pointed or sharp objects, like your trusty Swiss Army knife, and products which are explosive or flammable, such as flares, chemicals agents and fireworks, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• Choose comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by donning layers, and wear flat, enclosed shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

A little pre-planning before your flight will help make your trip to Stratford easy and painless. Read through our top tips for a speedy journey past security:

• Security personnel first need to know that you have a valid passport and boarding pass before anything else. Keep them close by.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might trigger the alarms. Personal belongings like your belt, jacket and headphones need to go through the machine.
• Your electronic devices like phones and laptops will also have to go through the machine for inspection. Don't worry, you'll be back online soon enough.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or toothpaste, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). They must also all fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll be asked to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a good idea.
• Avoid taking prohibited items in 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.