Flights to Varenna, Lombardy from NT$15,634

If you're not prepared, air travel can be challenging. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these tips and tricks and enjoy a stress-free start to your getaway in Varenna. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Air travel can be a great experience if you take the right stuff. First things first, you'll need basic toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and some deodorant, a spare set of clothes and a good book. Secondly, find room in your carry-on bag for your electronic gadgets, chargers, any medications and perhaps a blow-up neck pillow too. Lastly, and most importantly, don't forget to take your passport, travel docs and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Put all your full-sized bottles of hair gel and hairspray in your checked luggage. Any liquids or gels in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) will be confiscated. Pointed or sharp objects, like your treasured Swiss Army knife, and products which are flammable or explosive, such as aerosols and matches, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft are no place for a fashion parade. Dress in comfortable layers and choose shoes that are closed-toe, flat and easy to slip on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

The secret is to be prepared before you reach security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Varenna before you know it. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a spectacular start:

• Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be shown to airport security personnel. Have them easily accessible so you don't have to dig around for them.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag will be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that might set the alarms off. Items like your coat, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as toothpaste or perfume, 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.
• There's a possibility that you'll be asked to remove your shoes for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Sharp or pointed objects (like knives and scissors) are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked suitcase.