Cheap Flights to La Gomera from CA $249

If you're not prepared, travelling can be tough. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these handy hints for a hassle-free start to your vacation in La Gomera. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free travel experience is to pack ahead. So, let's start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, bank cards and vital medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you occupied, like some electronic devices or a juicy novel. It's also a wise idea to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Finally, don't forget to pop 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 Swiss Army knife lurking in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable products, 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:

• The aisles of a plane are no place for a fashion parade. Layer your clothing and pick shoes that are flat, roomy and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance 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.

It's simple — be prepared. We've put together some helpful hints for a fuss-free trip through security. Watch out La Gomera, here you come:

• Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be shown to security personnel. Have them easily accessible so you don't hold up the line.
• Next up is the X-ray machine. Empty your pockets and remove anything metal that is likely to set off the scanner's alarm. This includes items like headphones or earphones, as well as bulky coats or jackets. They'll all need to go on the X-ray conveyor belt.
• All your electronic devices, including your tablet and phone, must also be scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several valuable minutes. Boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp objects like a pocket knife or tools, pack them safely away in your checked luggage. They won't be allowed in the cabin.