Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu from HK$254

Depending on where you're coming from, your journey to Kota Kinabalu could be completely painless or it could go on forever. We've pulled together some handy travel tips that will help you start your unforgettable escape on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, pack your passport, travel docs, credit cards and medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to help pass the time. A juicy book and a laptop filled with your favourite movies are good options. If you hope to catch more than just forty winks, a comfy neck pillow and some noise-cancelling headphones will also come in handy. Finally, find room for a toothbrush and some cleansing wipes to ensure you touchdown feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife lurking in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive substances, such as fuel and matches, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your priority when choosing what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a wise option, as are flat, closed-toe shoes.
• Most of us have heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To lessen your risk on board, drink plenty of water, consider wearing compression tights or socks and keep your feet and legs moving.

As seasoned travellers know, the secret is to be well organised before you arrive at the security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Kota Kinabalu in no time at all. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a great start:

• Your travel documents and passport will need to be shown to security personnel. Keep them at hand so you don't hold up the queue.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, jacket, keys and other small items, like coins, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn.
• For just a few minutes, you'll have to unplug from technology. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic gadgets will need to go through the scanner.
• Travelling with your favourite perfume? No problem. As long as the volume is no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and it's stored in a zip-lock bag, you can bring it with you on board.
• There's a good chance you'll be required to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a clever idea.
• Airlines won't allow any pocket knives or other sharp items to come on board with you. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.