Earnings per share - Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Numerator
Net earnings/(losses) from continuing operations	$ 35,401	$ 17,388	$ 2,047
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations	1,032	(1,534)	(3,782)
Net losses/(earnings) attributable to non-controlling interests	(109)	411	(145)
Net earnings/(losses) attributable to Belmond Ltd.	$ 36,324	$ 16,265	$ (1,880)
Denominator (shares)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	101,586	103,163	103,837
Effect of dilution (in shares)	1,369	1,193	2,291
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	102,955	104,356	106,128
Basic earnings per share
Net earnings/(losses) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.348	$ 0.169	$ 0.020
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.010	(0.015)	(0.036)
Net losses/(earnings) attributable to non-controlling interests (in dollars per share)	(0.001)	0.004	(0.001)
Basic net earnings/(losses) per share attributable to Belmond Ltd. (in dollars per share)	0.357	0.158	(0.017)
Diluted earnings per share
Net earnings/(losses) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.344	0.167	0.019
Net earnings/(losses) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.010	(0.015)	(0.036)
Net losses/(earnings) attributable to non-controlling interests (in dollars per share)	(0.001)	0.004	(0.001)
Diluted net earnings/(losses) per share attributable to Belmond Ltd. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.353	$ 0.156	$ (0.018)