Cheap Flights to Puerto Escondido from HK$498

Depending on where you're coming from, your flight to Puerto Escondido could be completely painless or it could drag on forever. Below are some useful hints that will help you start your next great adventure on a positive note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having an amazing travel experience is to pack ahead. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, bank cards and any vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you busy, like your laptop or a thrilling book. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Finally, be sure to chuck in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a pocket knife lurking in one of the compartments of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive substances, like aerosols and matches, and liquids and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane are no place for a fashion parade. Layer up with comfy clothing and go for shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to slip on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

The trick is to be well prepared before you reach the airport security gate. That way, you'll be stepping onto that plane to Puerto Escondido in a flash. Follow these tips and get your holiday off to a spectacular start:

• First things first. Your passport and boarding pass will need to be shown to security personnel. Have them close by so you don't have to dig around for them.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your coat, belt, keys and other items in your pocket, like your earphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn.
• Your electronic gadgets like laptops and phones will also need to go on a tray to be scanned. Don't worry though, you'll be back online soon enough.
• Remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a sensible footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Boots and other heavy shoes are usually subjected to extra screening.
• Sharp items such as knives and scissors are not allowed on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them safely away in your checked suitcase.