Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2011 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2011 8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016	Dec. 31, 2012 7.456% Senior Notes Due 2018	Dec. 31, 2011 7.456% Senior Notes Due 2018	Dec. 31, 2012 5.95% Senior Notes Due 2020	Dec. 31, 2011 5.95% Senior Notes Due 2020	Feb. 28, 2010 Before Extension Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2012 After Extension Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior unsecured notes principal amount					$ 400,000,000	$ 500,000,000		$ 750,000,000
Senior notes, interest rate					8.50%	7.456%		5.95%
Senior notes, maturity date						2018-08		2020-08
Senior notes redemption price percentage at the option of holder						100.00%
Redemption at option of holder						repayable in whole or in part on August 15, 2013, at the option of the holders of such 7.456% Notes, at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest
Redemption at option of Company						at any time Expedia may redeem the 7.456% Notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal plus accrued interest, plus a "make-whole" premium, in whole or in part		We may redeem the 5.95% Notes at our option in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at a specified "make-whole" premium.
Senior notes issued price percentage								99.893%
Accrued interest related to senior notes	31,000,000	31,000,000
Fair value of senior notes						598,000,000	563,000,000	832,000,000	760,000,000
Unsecured revolving credit facility			1,000,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Committed Borrowing Capacity										750,000,000	1,000,000,000
Line of credit facility, expiration date			2017-11
Interest, on drawn amount			LIBOR plus 150 basis points
Commitment fee on undrawn amounts			0.20%
Basis points added to LIBOR rate			1.50%
Letters of credit issued under the credit facility			$ 25,000,000	$ 22,000,000