At Luxury City Living, we celebrate the art of refined travel—but did you know the word “travel” itself has a surprisingly rugged past?

Historians trace the term back to the Old French word travail, meaning strenuous effort or toil. By the 14th century, the English language adopted the word “travel” from travailen or travelen, which once meant to labor or strive—far from today’s image of luxury escapes.

Digging deeper, both “travel” and “travail” are believed to stem from the Latin tripalium, a three-staked device used as an instrument of torture. It’s a stark reminder of how challenging and even perilous travel once was.

Thankfully, travel has evolved from hardship to indulgence. What was once an exhausting ordeal is now a curated experience of comfort, culture, and luxury. At Luxury City Living, we help you rediscover travel—not as a struggle, but as a pleasure.