Cheap Flights to Los Gatos from HK$3,448

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be daunting. But there's no need to worry. Follow these handy tips for a comfortable start to your time in Los Gatos. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an awesome travel experience is to plan ahead. First up, the essentials: passport, travel docs, cash and medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic devices or a good read. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Last but not least, be sure to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a fresh change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a sharp object hiding in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable goods, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and liquids and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to choose comfort over style. Prepare for changes in cabin temperature by layering up, and wear slightly roomy, flat footwear like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

Being prepared before your flight will make your trip to Los Gatos easy and painless. We've rounded up some handy hints for a swift journey through security:

• First things first. Your passport and boarding pass will need to be shown to airport security. Keep them handy so you don't hold up the line.
• Your belt, coat, keys and other small items, like your headphones, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as your turn draws near.
• Electronic devices like laptops and phones will also have to go through the machine to be scanned. No need to worry though, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Any gels or liquids, such as perfume or toothpaste, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), zip-lock bag.
• There's a possibility that you'll be required to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a good idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp items or pocket knives in your carry-on baggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked baggage.