Cheap Flights to Costa Rica

Wherever you're jetting in from, flying can be a seamless experience if you're well prepared. Check out these handy tips and tricks that will get your Costa Rica escape started on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a hassle-free travel experience is to pack in advance. First up, the essentials: passport, travel documents, credit cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like your laptop or a thrilling novel. It's also smart to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Finally, don't forget to toss in toiletry items like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a spare set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) lurking in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive goods, such as fuel and fireworks, and gels and liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• Your goal here is to feel as comfortable as possible. Opt for shoes that are easy to pull on and off, dress in loose, natural-fibre clothing and remember to take a sweater in case you get chilly in the cabin.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

It's all about being organised. We've put together some handy tips and tricks for an easy trip through security. Look out Costa Rica, here you come:

• Your travel ID and boarding pass will need to be presented to security personnel. Have them close by to avoid fumbling around for them.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Items such as your belt, jacket and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Your electronic devices like laptops and phones will also have to go through the machine to be scanned. No need to worry though, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Remove all liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several minutes. Hiking or heavy-style boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Sharp items like knives can't be taken on board. They'll be seized at security, so pack them in your checked baggage.