Activity Related to "Senior, mezzanine, and other loans" Notes Receivable Reserve (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jan. 01, 2010
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Ending balance	$ 78	$ 292
Senior, Mezzanine and Other Loans
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	74	183	113
Additions	2	4	84
Write-offs		(120)	(28)
Reversals	(7)
Transfers and other	9	7	14
Ending balance	$ 78	$ 74	$ 183

Financing receivable allowance for credit losses, other adjustments

No definition available.

Name:	mar_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	mar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to improved cash flows of underlying property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mar_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesReversals
Namespace Prefix:	mar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Charge to expense for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to financing receivables deemed uncollectible.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesWriteOffs
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration