Cheap Flights to Santiago de los Caballeros from HK$1,253

We've got the lowdown on how to make your journey a pleasant experience. Follow our tips and you'll be cruising through airport security and having a blast in Santiago de los Caballeros in no time at all. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Travelling on a plane can be a cruisy experience if you take the right stuff. First of all you'll need basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush and hairbrush, a fresh change of clothes and something to read. Secondly, leave space in your hand luggage for your electronic gadgets, chargers, your important medications and maybe a quality neck pillow too. Lastly, don't forget to take your passport, travel docs and your bank cards.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a Swiss Army knife hiding in your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable substances, such as aerosol cans and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft aren't the place for a fashion parade. Layer your clothing and opt for shoes that are flat, roomy and easy to remove.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The answer is simple — be prepared. We've compiled some useful tips for a stress-free trip through security. Watch out Santiago de los Caballeros, here you come:

• Be sure to have your ID and boarding pass within easy reach. They're the first items you'll be asked for by security.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might set the alarms off. Items like your coat, belt and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your tablet and phone, must also be separately scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as perfume or toothpaste, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a clever footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Hiking boots and heavier-style shoes are often subjected to extra screening.
• Sharp or pointed items are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so put them in your checked baggage.