Other intangible assets (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 21, 2016
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions	$ 0	$ 714,000	$ 269,000
Impairment of intangible assets	0
Net book value	13,877,000	13,851,000	13,958,000
Amortization expense	561,000	531,000
Continuing operations
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	561,000	531,000	375,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2016	561,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2017	561,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2018	561,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2019	561,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2020	561,000
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net book value	7,579,000	7,100,000	7,100,000
Trade names | Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value				42.00%
Net book value	7,579,000
Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net book value	5,865,000	6,220,000	6,100,000
Amortization expense	373,000	341,000
Favorable lease assets | Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant' Andrea
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions		714,000
Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Net book value	433,000	531,000	$ 758,000
Amortization expense	$ 188,000	$ 190,000
Minimum | Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period (in years)	19 years
Minimum | Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period (in years)	5 years
Maximum | Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period (in years)	60 years
Maximum | Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period (in years)	10 years