This Month's Guide
Updated every month, we handpick one of our most-read guides and place it at the forefront of the site for all our readers to enjoy.
Vasiliki Lefkada: A Southern Bay with a Character All Its Own
Vasiliki Lefkada is best known for windsurfing, a working harbour and its useful position for exploring the island’s southern and west-coast beaches. The sheltered horseshoe bay is often calm in the morning before the reliable afternoon thermal wind arrives, while nearby Ponti offers a quieter continuation of the beachfront. We liked that Vasiliki never depended on windsurfing alone. We used calm mornings for swimming, wandered around the harbour after dark and treated the village as a practical base for reaching beaches and cliffs farther west. 🌬️ Why Is Vasiliki Lefkada
Explore Guides by Region
Discover some of Ian’s favourite regions, with plenty of insider knowledge, practical advice and travel inspiration.
Discover the best of Spain, from lively cities and historic landmarks to beautiful beaches, traditional towns and authentic Spanish culture.
Discover Portugal through practical travel guides covering vibrant cities, coastal escapes, local food and some of the country’s best places to visit.
Explore Greece travel guides, from historic cities and beautiful islands to traditional villages, beaches and unforgettable places to visit.
Explore France with travel guides covering iconic cities, charming towns, beautiful countryside, coastal destinations and memorable local experiences.
Soft Footprints
So, what are you waiting for? Join me on this incredible journey, and let's discover the world together, one Soft Footprint at a time.
Ian's Most Recent Travel Guides
Explore six of Ian’s latest travel guides in one place. These feature destinations he has recently visited, along with newly updated guides from previous trips.
Best Places in Sintra: What Should You Prioritise?
I found the best places in Sintra much easier to choose once I stopped asking what I could fit in and started with how much time I actually had. With
Evenings in Baiona: How the Town Changes After Sunset
I think evenings are when Baiona works best. Once my beach visits or coastal drives were finished, I could come back to the harbour around sunset, slow everything down and
Is Nassau Worth Visiting?
Is Nassau worth visiting? For me, yes, particularly on a first trip to the Bahamas. It combines good beaches, historic sights, boat excursions and well-developed tourism infrastructure, making it one
Cape Lefkatas, Lefkada: The Island’s Southern Tip
Cape Lefkatas is Lefkada’s dramatic southern tip, reached by road from Vasiliki and finished with a short walk from the parking area. The exposed headland combines near-vertical white limestone cliffs,
Chania Samaria Gorge: How Challenging Is the Hike?
Chania Samaria Gorge is challenging rather than technically difficult. What struck me most was how the difficulty kept changing: a steep opening descent, hours of uneven ground and then a
Where to Stay in Nassau: Neighborhood Guide
Where to stay in Nassau comes down for me to three main areas: Paradise Island for a resort-focused holiday, Cable Beach for beach time with restaurants nearby, and Downtown Nassau
Unsure Where to Next? Start With a Series
Deciding where to visit next? Explore the destinations Ian has written about most extensively, with guides covering almost every aspect of your trip.
Series 1: Everything you need to know about Paxos
Series 2: The full guide of Comporta
Series 3: Discover the hidden gems in Korcula
The Person Behind the Path
All Guides Are Written by Ian Howes
Ian Howes is a travel writer and the founder of Soft Footprints, a publication focused on lesser-known destinations, local culture, and experiences that most travelers overlook. His approach centers on slow, intentional travel and first-hand research, shaped by time spent exploring regions beyond mainstream tourism routes.
Ian’s interest in meaningful travel began after a formative stay on a small Greek island, which reshaped how he engages with destinations and local communities. Since then, he has built extensive on-the-ground experience across diverse regions, with a focus on local traditions, overlooked landscapes, and sustainable travel practices.
Through Soft Footprints, Ian provides practical, experience-based guidance for travelers seeking authentic, off-the-tourist-path journeys. His work emphasizes accuracy, cultural respect, and responsible exploration, helping readers develop a deeper understanding of the places they visit.
Leave nothing but soft footprints
