Segment information - Reconciliation of other significant reconciling items from segments to consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	$ 55,104	$ 56,395	$ 63,454
Total investment in equity method investees	79,327	71,724
Total earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	11,013	9,075	9,484
Eastern & Oriental Express
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total investment in equity method investees	2,818	2,972
Peru hotels
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total investment in equity method investees	19,769	18,696
PeruRail
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total investment in equity method investees	53,652	47,421
Buzios
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total investment in equity method investees	2,998	2,542
Other
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total investment in equity method investees	90	93
Unallocated corporate
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	1,459	283	280
Hotel
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	40,763	44,697	57,641
Hotel | Segment: Hotels - part-owned/ managed
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	1,112	106	1,949
Hotel | Europe
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	11,777	18,648	26,542
Hotel | North America
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	9,796	11,881	16,690
Hotel | Rest of world
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	19,190	14,168	14,409
Trains and cruises
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total capital expenditure to acquire property, plant and equipment	12,882	11,415	5,533
Total earnings from unconsolidated companies, net of tax	$ 9,901	$ 8,969	$ 7,535