Cheap Flights to Santo Domingo from CA $79

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasurable experience if you're well organized. Follow these handy travel tips that will help get your Santo Domingo vacation started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• A plane ride can be a great experience if you pack the right things. Firstly, you'll need basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush and lip balm, a fresh change of clothes and a magazine or two. Secondly, find room in your carry-on bag for your mobile phone, a charger, your medications and maybe a comfy neck pillow as well. Lastly, be sure to take your passport, travel papers and your bank cards.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Squeeze all your full-sized bottles of hair gel and hairspray in your checked baggage. Any liquids in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) won't be allowed on. Pointed or sharp objects, like a pocket knife, and dangerous products which are explosive or flammable, such as flares, bleaching agents and matches, are also not allowed.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by layering up, and wear flat, enclosed shoes like slip-ons.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

As seasoned travellers know, the secret is to be prepared before you reach security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Santo Domingo before you know it. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a fantastic start:

• Have your boarding pass and passport easily accessible. They're the first things you'll be asked for by airport security.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All electronic devices, including your phone and tablet, must also be scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as perfume or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), zip-lock bag.
• There's a good chance you'll need to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a good idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects to come on board with you. If you need to bring these kinds of items, check them in.