Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Supplemental Financial Information (Statements of Operations Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Revenue	$ 1,023,634		$ 833,960		$ 1,845,811		$ 1,551,879
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue	198,544	[1]	168,571	[1]	376,386	[1]	326,601	[1]
Selling and marketing	393,969	[1]	296,830	[1]	735,127	[1]	577,668	[1]
Technology and content	110,161	[1]	87,420	[1]	213,345	[1]	174,211	[1]
General and administrative	84,837	[1]	79,105	[1]	167,538	[1]	150,163	[1]
Amortization of intangible assets	7,046		8,344		14,997		17,372
Spin-off costs	2,108				2,108
Legal reserves and occupancy tax assessments					1,100
Operating income	226,969		193,690		335,210		305,864
Other income (expense):
Other, net	(30,629)		(18,171)		(64,685)		(38,211)
Total other expense, net	(30,629)		(18,171)		(64,685)		(38,211)
Income before income taxes	196,340		175,519		270,525		267,653
Provision for income taxes	(55,450)		(60,166)		(77,426)		(91,701)
Net income	140,890		115,353		193,099		175,952
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(497)		(1,091)		(667)		(2,295)
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	140,393		114,262		192,432		173,657
Parent [Member]
Other income (expense):
Equity in pre-tax earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	157,599		125,239		227,314		195,910
Other, net	(29,540)		(18,157)		(59,050)		(36,337)
Total other expense, net	128,059		107,082		168,264		159,573
Income before income taxes	128,059		107,082		168,264		159,573
Provision for income taxes	12,334		7,180		24,168		14,084
Net income	140,393		114,262		192,432		173,657
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	140,393		114,262		192,432		173,657
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	887,495		736,351		1,603,289		1,366,204
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue	169,313		150,712		322,074		282,730
Selling and marketing	273,186		209,413		510,637		411,191
Technology and content	84,928		70,130		166,387		139,280
General and administrative	60,456		58,356		120,118		109,181
Amortization of intangible assets	1,925		2,951		3,877		6,414
Spin-off costs	2,108				2,108
Legal reserves and occupancy tax assessments					1,100
Intercompany (income) expense, net	209,073		76,949		378,039		166,507
Operating income	86,506		167,840		98,949		250,901
Other income (expense):
Equity in pre-tax earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	111,792		11,313		187,564		24,802
Other, net	(7,615)		20,742		(28,847)		32,543
Total other expense, net	104,177		32,055		158,717		57,345
Income before income taxes	190,683		199,895		257,666		308,246
Provision for income taxes	(32,216)		(73,849)		(28,692)		(109,876)
Net income	158,467		126,046		228,974		198,370
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	158,467		126,046		228,974		198,370
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenue	145,411		108,368		261,623		205,743
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue	29,069		19,035		54,095		45,167
Selling and marketing	130,327		96,986		243,884		185,254
Technology and content	25,287		17,290		47,012		34,918
General and administrative	24,217		20,763		47,290		40,990
Amortization of intangible assets	5,121		5,393		11,120		10,958
Intercompany (income) expense, net	(209,073)		(76,949)		(378,039)		(166,507)
Operating income	140,463		25,850		236,261		54,963
Other income (expense):
Other, net	6,526		(20,756)		23,212		(34,417)
Total other expense, net	6,526		(20,756)		23,212		(34,417)
Income before income taxes	146,989		5,094		259,473		20,546
Provision for income taxes	(35,568)		6,503		(72,902)		4,091
Net income	111,421		11,597		186,571		24,637
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(497)		(1,091)		(667)		(2,295)
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	110,924		10,506		185,904		22,342
Eliminations [Member]
Revenue	(9,272)		(10,759)		(19,101)		(20,068)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue	162		(1,176)		217		(1,296)
Selling and marketing	(9,544)		(9,569)		(19,394)		(18,777)
Technology and content	(54)				(54)		13
General and administrative	164		(14)		130		(8)
Other income (expense):
Equity in pre-tax earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(269,391)		(136,552)		(414,878)		(220,712)
Total other expense, net	(269,391)		(136,552)		(414,878)		(220,712)
Income before income taxes	(269,391)		(136,552)		(414,878)		(220,712)
Net income	(269,391)		(136,552)		(414,878)		(220,712)
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	$ (269,391)		$ (136,552)		$ (414,878)		$ (220,712)

[1] Includes stock-based compensation as follows: Cost of revenue $581, $487, $1,391, $1,276. Selling and marketing $2,868, $3,118, $7,182, $7,435. Technology and content $3,329, $3,249, $8,080, $7,630. General and administrative $6,703, $7,797, $14,100, $17,202. Total stock-based compensation $13,481, $14,651, $30,753, $33,543