Fair value measurements - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	$ 8,216,000	$ 1,007,000	$ 0
Impairment of goodwill	5,500,000	0	9,796,000
Fair value measurements, non-recurring
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure	5,955,000	0
Goodwill, fair value disclosure	0		10,050,000
Cap Juluca
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of goodwill	5,500,000
Goodwill, fair value disclosure	5,500,000
Cap Juluca | Fair value measurements, non-recurring
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Goodwill, fair value disclosure	0
Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of goodwill			5,698,000
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of goodwill			4,098,000
Property, plant and equipment
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	8,216,000	1,007,000
Belmond Orcaella | Property, plant and equipment
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		1,007,000
Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	8,216,000
Carrying value | Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			5,698,000
Carrying value | Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			14,148,000
Carrying value | Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure	14,171,000
Carrying value | Belmond Orcaella
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure		1,007,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Goodwill, fair value disclosure			$ 10,050,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Belmond Road to Mandalay and Belmond Northern Belle
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure	$ 5,955,000
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement | Belmond Orcaella
Valuation of financial assets and liabilities by the fair value hierarchy
Property, plant and equipment, fair value disclosure		$ 0