Cheap Flights to Costa de la Calma from HK$169

Depending on where you're coming from, your journey to Costa de la Calma could be no sweat at all or it could drag on forever. We've rounded up some tips that will help you start your next great adventure on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free flight experience is to be prepared. First up, the essentials: passport, travel docs, credit cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you busy, like your laptop or a thrilling novel. It's also wise to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Finally, don't forget to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife lurking in your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable products, 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 go for comfort over style. Prepare for changes in temperature by layering up, and pick flat, slightly roomy footwear like slip-ons.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The simple answer is — be prepared. We've put together some handy tips and tricks for a hassle-free trip through airport security. Look out Costa de la Calma, here you come:

• Security personnel first need to make sure that you have a valid ID and matching travel documents before you can proceed any further. Have them ready for inspection.
• The X-ray machine comes next. Remove anything on you that is likely to set off the alarm. This includes items like earphones or headphones, as well as bulky coats or jackets. They'll need to be placed on the conveyor belt for screening.
• For just a few minutes, you'll have to unplug from technology. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic gadgets also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Travelling with a new hand cream? As long as the volume is no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and it's stored in a zip-lock bag, it's fine to bring with you in your carry-on baggage.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Slip-on sneakers are usually not.
• Sharp or pointed objects (like knives and scissors) are prohibited in the cabin. They'll be seized at security, so put them in your checked suitcase.