Name:	pcln_BusinessAcquisitionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity before repurchase of redeemable noncontrolling shares.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwnersBeforeRepurchaseOfShares
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period for redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interests.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfRedeemableNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the portion of redeemable shares that are subject to put and call options during specified option exercise periods.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_PortionOfRedeemableSharesSubjectToPutAndCallOptions
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value as of the reporting date of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) may be in the form of common shares (regardless of class), limited partnership units (regardless of class), non-preferential membership interests, or any other form of common equity regardless of investee entity legal form.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCommonFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of ownership interest in new subsidiary purchased from parent by key members of an existing wholly-owned subsidiary management team which, combined with the shares held by the management team of the newly acquired subsidiary, represent the redeemable shares. The holders of the redeemable shares have the right to put their shares to the parent company and the parent company has the right to call the shares in each case at a purchase price reflecting the fair value of the redeemable shares at the time of exercise.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestOwnershipInterestPurchasedFromParentByKeyManagementTeamMembersOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Combined change in redeemable noncontrolling interest during the period as a result of a change in the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interest.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestsFairValueAdjustmentCombined
Namespace Prefix:	pcln
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the purchase by the parent of an additional equity interest in a subsidiary during the period, thereby effecting a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The purchase of the additional equity interest represented by this element increases the parent's controlling interest in the subsidiary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph d

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A7
-Appendix A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any, which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles which are apportioned to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 25

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MovementInMinorityInterestRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into functional currency of the reporting entity, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29, 30

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 15, 17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011 Priceline.com International Limited (PIL)	May 31, 2010 Priceline.com International Limited (PIL)	Jun. 30, 2011 Priceline.com International Limited (PIL)	Mar. 31, 2011 Priceline.com International Limited (PIL)	Jun. 30, 2010 Booking.com Limited
Acquisition of Controlling and Redeemable Controlling Interest
Payments to purchase a controlling interest of the outstanding equity of TravelJigsaw Holdings Limited and its operating subsidiary			$ 108,500,000
Percent purchased, by certain key members of the management team of Booking.com, of ownership interest in TravelJigsaw from PIL (as a percent)						3.00%
Reconciliation of redeemable noncontrolling interests
Balance at the beginning of the period	45,751,000			45,751,000
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests				(867,000)
Fair value adjustment combined				33,740,000
Purchase of subsidiary shares at fair value				(12,986,000)
Currency translation adjustments				1,858,000
Balance at the end of the period	67,496,000			67,496,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest, before repurchase of shares (as a percent)					24.40%
Noncontrolling interests, aggregate purchase price of outstanding shares	$ 12,986,000	$ 13,000,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (as a percent)		19.00%
Proportion of redeemable shares subject to put and call options in each of 2011, 2012 and 2013	one-third