Postcards from Alexis Doyle

Travel and hospitality film photographer, Alexis Doyle shares her favourite hotels in Egypt, travel planning logistics and inspirational career journey

As I embark on my second year of interviewing the women who inspire me in the world of travel (I launched my ‘Postcards from’ series at the end of June last year) I am by no means running out of women I would love to feature here. I currently have the next four interviews lined up (coming soon: a content creator/writer, two writer-and-editors, and a writer/editor/film photographer/creative consultant) — but if you’d like to be featured or have someone you’d like to recommend, please leave a comment.

I continue to be fascinated and inspired by reading about everyone’s different journeys and career paths. It took me a long time to work out what I wanted to do with my life and to get to where I am now (perhaps I should share my own career journey at some point?) and it really reassures me to learn how many of us have taken unconventional twisty-turny paths.

Today I’m speaking to a film photographer whose work I adore, who also happens to be the social editor for one of my favourite travel Instagram accounts. Alexis Doyle really captures the essence of the places she visits through her photography, going beyond the obvious to capture life in her imagery. Her portfolio reads like a seasoned pro, despite Alexis only entering the travel photography world three years ago. I particularly love her work in Egypt, which Alexis goes into in much more detail during our interview below.

Follow Alexis’s travels on her Instagram, and view more of her work on her website.

Please could you introduce yourself?

Hi! I’m Alexis Doyle, and I’m primarily a travel/hospitality photographer, but I also do a bit of work as a social editor for a travel page (Tiny Atlas) as well as image research. I’m from Michigan originally, but have been more or less based in New York City the last few months. I also spend lots of time elsewhere, most often in Greece, Egypt, and Italy. You can view my work on my Instagram, as well as on my website.

Could you share a brief outline of your career journey? How did you get to where you are today?

This career path wasn’t something I seriously considered until about three years ago. I entered university planning to become an emergency medicine physician and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, but as I reached the final stages of applying to medical school, I realized there were many interests I had never given myself the chance to explore, especially travel. While I considered pursuing a master’s or PhD, I decided to spend some time exploring the things I had put on the back burner throughout college before committing to more years of school.

I didn’t start photography until the summer after graduation. Around that time, I discovered the work of Pia Riverola on Instagram and was completely enamored by it. When I learned she shot on film, I decided to give it a try myself for fun. I bought an $80 Canon EOS Elan II on eBay and brought it on a trip to Italy with friends that summer.

That trip to Italy was one of my first experiences traveling outside the United States, and I immediately fell in love with being somewhere new and immersing myself in a different culture. The trip ended with a few solo days in Cinque Terre, and I discovered there how much I enjoyed traveling on my own (I of course enjoy traveling with friends too but something about solo travel really captivated me). Exploring at my own pace and navigating a foreign country independently gave me a sense of confidence and freedom that was addicting.

As it goes for most people (I think) I was bit by the travel bug after that experience, and that led to a solo trip to Malta later that year. I can still vividly remember one day while visiting Saint Peter’s Pool when I had the realization that travel and photography brought me more joy than anything else I had pursued. I still loved science and was fascinated by the education I had received, but the idea of documenting beautiful places and experiencing new cultures excited me in a way nothing else had.

Soon after, I discovered a volunteer-exchange program that offered free accommodation in exchange for work. To make long-term travel financially possible, I worked and saved enough to spend several months abroad while building my photography portfolio. Over six months, I volunteered in Corfu, Egypt, Sicily, and Scotland, living out of a suitcase and posting photos of my travels on Instagram along the way.

Since then it’s been a lot of pitching, posting, and trying to create opportunities for myself wherever possible. I still have a long way to go before I’m where I’d like to be with my career, but I’m endlessly grateful to that past version of myself that decided to take a chance on what lit me up and blindly put in all of the hours and hours of work to get to where I am today.

What have been your career highlights?

A few that come to mind include shooting for my first big commercial client in Thailand and in Mykonos — being trusted to execute such a big project was equally nerve wracking and exciting, but that satisfaction of pulling it off really boosted my confidence. I’d also have to mention the random moments that I find myself in beautiful places because my camera brought me there … there’s nothing like that feeling of reflection and gratitude when it’s a Tuesday afternoon and I’m driving on the PCH to a hotel I’m about to shoot, or I’m mapping my way to various churches in an Italian town as part of a brief, or I’m on a remote island in Thailand with no cell service shooting local farmers/farming practices. It’s all those pinch-me moments that I feel so lucky to experience as part of my work now that really stick out most to me.

Where was the last place you travelled abroad to and where did you stay?

I recently traveled to Saint Martin and Anguilla for work and got to stay at the Belmond properties on both islands (La Samanna on Saint Martin and Cap Juluca on Anguilla). The beaches, service, and food at both were just beyond and after spending winter months in Michigan/New York, feeling the sun on my skin and 80-something degree temps were very appreciated.

Where are you heading to next and what do you have planned while you’re there?

I’m heading to Hawaii for the first time for work in a few days! I’ll just be in O’ahu for the shoot, but will have an extra couple of days to explore around a bit (with my mom!) which I’m excited for. We’ll do a bit of hiking, try some local food spots I’ve been recommended, drive around the North Shore, and probably make a visit to the Pearl Harbor Museum. Of course, will also take lots of photos along the way!

Do you have any further travels planned for the next six months?

Yes! Usually my travel isn’t planned so far in advance (ha!), but I’ll be heading to Bodrum later this month for work and plan to also visit Fethiye while I’m there. I’ll also be heading to Paris in late August for one of my best friends’ bachelorette/wedding which I’m very excited for. I’ll potentially be heading to Marseilles after her wedding, then maybe Italy or Greece for a bit, and then to Ireland for the first time for Ireland Fashion Week. Egypt is also in the plan somewhere in there!

Where is one destination you’re itching to return to?

Thailand for sure- I went for the first time last year and spent around a month there total and absolutely fell in love with it. The people were so unbelievably kind, the food was so layered and incredible, the landscapes were otherworldly, and it really was one of those places I feel like I couldn’t get enough of. I’d particularly love to spend more time in northern Thailand next time as I only had a few days in Chiang Mai and am super keen to see more.

And is there anywhere you’d never go back to?

I’ve been lucky in the fact that I’ve really enjoyed everywhere I’ve visited, but maybe if I had to pick one place it would probably be Helsinki? It’s really beautiful, but I’m not sure that it’s somewhere that I’d eagerly seek out again anytime soon. I had really great food there though and went to a super cool steam/sauna house right on the ocean!

Could you share three hotels or hideaways where you have had memorable stays?

La Maison Bleue in El Gouna, Egypt is probably one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in. It’s a private residence turned boutique hotel, and the interiors and exteriors there are exactly what my dream house would look like. The staff there were also the most personable and kind of any hotel I’ve ever been to.

Al Moudira in Luxor, Egypt is another one that blew me away on all fronts- the food, design, and service are all top tier. Some of the best meals I’ve ever had in Egypt were there and each room is so unique and thoughtfully designed, it really feels like you’re being welcomed into someone’s estate.

A third would probably have to be Adrére Amellal in Egypt … if you couldn’t tell I am obsessed with Egypt’s hotels, but this one is really in a league of its own. It’s located around 9-10 hours from Cairo by car, but the stay here is worth every second of that drive. It’s located in one of my favorite places in Egypt, Siwa Oasis, which in itself is really a magical place. You feel like you’re stepping into a whole different world there, and the pride that the Siwi people have in their land and their culture is always an honor to be in the presence of. The hotel itself is a complex of buildings created using traditional building methods with no two structures being the same, and there’s no electricity which makes it the perfect place if you’re looking to truly step away from reality for a bit. Another place with excellent food (also cooked without electricity and with local produce) and such personalized service from the kindest people. One of my favorite things about this hotel, though, is the owner’s ongoing commitment to preserving Siwi culture and the land here.

And three that are at the very top of your list to stay at?

Orient Express Venezia

Belmond Splendido, Portofino

The Malkai, Oman

Nihi Sumba, Indonesia

Hotel Corazon, Mallorca

Kisawa Sanctuary, Mozambique

(The impossible question, hard to pick just 3!)

What are your hand luggage essentials, that you never travel without?

Eye mask (makes it so I can sleep anywhere), headphones, gum, tiles for my SD card/hardrive case and luggage, my Domke bag for film, and maybe a protein bar/nuts or something for a longer travel day!

If you could open your own hotel, what would it be like?

It’s definitely a dream of mine to open a hotel someday, especially one that truly honors and highlights the destination it’s in. I’ve spent a lot of time in Egypt and am endlessly inspired by the quality of the hotels there and everything the country has to offer.

I’d love to open a boutique hotel in Cairo that leans into the aesthetics of the city’s early 20th century era, with an opulent, maximalist design that blends the various design influences of the time. I picture it being moody, with jewel toned walls and dark wood paneling, carved mashrabiya screens, alabaster lighting, marble floors, brass and bronze fixtures, opulent crystal chandeliers, and dramatic drapery. I’d love to stock the hotel entirely with Egyptian-owned brands and makers, from the soaps and toiletries to the ceramicware, linens, artwork, and furniture. I’d also love to have classics such as Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, and Mohamed Abdel Wahab playing on record players throughout the common spaces.

The way that Cairo seems to exist both in the past and the present has always been something like magic to me, and I’d love to create a space that captures that feeling in a way that’s thoughtful, responsible, and does the city justice. More than anything, I’d want it to be an honorable tribute to Egypt and the people that call it home, and to also give back to both in some way.

How do you plan your travels? Do you have any go-to resources or any tried and tested planning techniques? Who do you look to for travel inspiration?

A lot of my travel revolves around work and where it takes me, and most of my leisure travel also ends up becoming work-related in some way or form haha, but if I’m purely planning for fun I love looking to various blogs on Substack (Hotels Above Par is a fave) or various travel companies on Instagram like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Prior, Tatler Travel, Two Arab Minds, Roadbook, Softer Volumes, etc. for inspo.

When it comes to logistics, the most important things I pay attention to when in the planning process (usually because I’ve learned the hard way) are:

1. Making sure my layover is no shorter than an hour/hour and a half on connecting flights!!

2. Making sure that my hotel or AirBnB is in a good location for whatever activities or places I want to see when visiting somewhere.

3. Avoiding connecting in CDG whenever possible (I love you Paris but this airport has nearly been the death of me and my travel plans a few too many times).

4. Leaving some flexibility in my plans to allow for a bit of spontaneity.

Thank you so much for chatting with me Alexis! All editions of my Postcards from interviews are available for everyone to read for free, featuring the female photographers, writers and creatives in the world of travel who bring me daily inspiration. And if you’d like to gain access to the entirity of my archives, from my monthly freelance diaries to hotel edits, travel diaries and random musings, you can upgrade your subscription for just £5 a month (there’s a discount if you pay for a year in advance).

Emma xx