Property, plant and equipment - Narratives (Details) € in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) villa	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€) villa
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		$ 1,168,044,000	$ 1,074,676,000
Interest capitalized		624,000	0	$ 0
Insurance plan, coverage amount		30,000,000
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		8,216,000	1,007,000	0
Insurance policy, deductible expense		1,548,000
Insurance receivable		1,622,000
Proceeds from insurance settlements	$ 15,000,000	13,588,000	0	0
La Samanna
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		29,983,000
La Samanna | Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated repair cost		25,000,000
La Samanna | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated repair cost		30,000,000
Cap Juluca
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		48,581,000
Cap Juluca | Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated repair cost		80,000,000
Cap Juluca | Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Estimated repair cost		90,000,000
Governor’s Residence
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		2,614,000
Belmond El Encanto
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		118,414,000
Belmond Orcaella
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment			1,007,000
Hurricane | La Samanna
Property, plant and equipment
Insurance plan, coverage amount		$ 5,870,000			€ 4,900
Number of villas | villa		8			8
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		$ 5,645,000
Hurricane | Cap Juluca
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		16,294,000
Belmond Road to Mandalay
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		7,124,000
Belmond Northern Belle
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		1,092,000
Variable interest entity, primary beneficiary
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		197,369,000	201,861,000
Variable interest entity, primary beneficiary | Charleston Center LLC
Property, plant and equipment
Total property, plant and equipment at book value		197,369,000	201,861,000
Continuing operations
Property, plant and equipment
Depreciation expense		$ 62,252,000	$ 51,835,000	$ 49,982,000