Other intangible assets - Narratives (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	$ 6,100,000	$ 177,000
Additions	0	0	$ 714,000
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	0
Net book value	19,778,000	13,877,000	13,851,000
Amortization expense	600,000	561,000
Continuing operations
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization expense	600,000	561,000	531,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2018	600,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2019	600,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2020	600,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2021	600,000
Estimated amortization expense, year ended December 31, 2022	600,000
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	6,100,000	0
Net book value	$ 14,001,000	7,579,000	7,100,000
Trade names | Cap Juluca
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	29.00%
Net book value	$ 6,100,000
Trade names | Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Percentage fair value in excess of carrying value	32.00%
Net book value	$ 7,901,000
Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	0	0
Net book value	5,468,000	5,865,000	6,220,000
Amortization expense	434,000	373,000
Favorable lease assets | Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant' Andrea
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions			714,000
Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Additions	0	177,000
Net book value	309,000	433,000	$ 531,000
Amortization expense	$ 166,000	$ 188,000
Minimum | Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	19 years
Minimum | Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	5 years
Maximum | Favorable lease assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	60 years
Maximum | Internet sites
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization period (in years)	10 years