Flights to Venetia, Pennsylvania from NT$6,176

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to panic. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a pleasant start to your vacation in Venetia. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a stress-free travel experience is to pack ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, travel docs, cash and important medications. Next, take on board items that'll help while away those hours, like some electronic devices or a good book. It's also smart to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. Last but not least, don't forget to toss in toiletries like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a spare set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items can differ between air carriers, the general rule of thumb is avoid carrying anything sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, blades, fireworks and fuel. Sports equipment like golf clubs, and objects that could injure passengers, such as pepper spray and guns, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• Your priority is to be as comfortable as you can. Go for easy-to-remove footwear, dress in loose, natural fibers and remember to take a pullover in case it gets cold in the cabin.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It's the result of blood clots forming due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

The answer is simple — be organized. We've put together some handy tips and tricks for a stress-free trip through airport security. Look out Venetia, here you come:

• Be sure to keep your ID and boarding pass easily accessible. They're the first things you'll be asked to present to security.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Personal belongings like your belt, jacket and earphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronics, including your phone and laptop, must also be separately scanned.
• Remove gels and liquids from your carry-on bag. They often need to be sent through the X-ray scanner 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 be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a good idea.
• Sharp items are prohibited in the cabin. They'll be seized at security, so pack them in your checked bags.