A first-time guide to Malawi

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller India.

The party started an hour before the M/S Gabriella ferry slipped out of Stockholm harbor for its overnight voyage to Helsinki. At the outdoor bar on Deck 9, passengers had gathered for the 4 p.m. sailing. Talking excitedly over drinks, they reveled in the Nordic summer weather — bright sun, cool breeze, electric blue sky with cotton-ball clouds — while a D.J. mixed bass-heavy Eurodance and vintage disco. Kids on holiday with their families dashed about.

Going on a romantic escape and traveling with your partner for the very first time is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. There is a lot of pressure associated with your first couple’s trip: There are all the typical stresses that come with traveling, plus more anxieties associated with spending uninterrupted quality time together for longer-than-usual stretches. Not to mention having to get used to the travel idiosyncrasies of another person. Below, we’ve rounded up the golden rules, according to our staff editors, that you should follow to ensure a smooth-sailing trip when you're traveling with your partner.

I've been on over 25 long-haul train rides since I started working as a travel writer in 2015. I tend to take one or two train trips each year, traveling the US in quadrants and stopping in multiple cities along the way.

In December, my son, his wife, and our 2-1/2-year-old granddaughter met my wife and me in California so we could all go to Disneyland.

Ski season is just around the corner, and the Ikon Pass is making it even easier to ski across the country by adding a new California mountain to the mix.

Over the last few years, Burning Man has become known as a haven for Silicon Valley tech bros and Instagram influencers who cough up thousands of dollars to party in "Mad Max" desert cosplay. 

Europe’s ancient cobbled cities are not necessarily renowned for accessibility, but if you know where to look, Paris has reliably accessible places to visit. The bus system is fully accessible, with frequent services to most areas in the city. Many of the major activities or venues in the city have elevators, ramps, and staff more than willing to help. Plus, most of the museums and cultural activities in the city are available for free or at a heavily discounted rate for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

While Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, Margaritaville at Sea wants to keep the good times going with a flash sale that has half-off all cruises.

As the summer travel season comes to a close, travelers have a new way to save on fall getaways. JetBlue recently announced the «Game On» fare sale, which offers flights as low as $49. The promotion is a nod to the fall football season, however the fares can provide an affordable options for early fall vacations, or last-minute trips.  As an example, JetBlue shows a fare of $49 one-way from New York's JFK airport to Nashville, Tenn. for travel in both September and October.

Immense waterfalls, scenic train rides, and cities that feel like Europe — I experienced them all during my first trip to Canada. 

The State Department has released new dates for its nationwide Special Passport Acceptance Fairs, continuing to help first-time international travelers score a passport. The new schedule has passport events in Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia throughout the rest of this month, September, and October. For example, travelers in Atlanta, Georgia can get assistance at the Atlanta Passport Agency on Saturday Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. through 11 a.m., and appointments are required. Travelers from Cincinnati, Ohio can visit the Downtown Main Library on Monday, Aug. 26 from 12 p.m. through 7 p.m. for assistance, and appointments are also required.  Additional events are taking place at local government offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Burleson, Texas; Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, among others. A full listing of events is located on the State Department’s website.