Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations attributable to Expedia, Inc.																	$ 302,710	$ 324,146	$ 301,615
Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Expedia, Inc. available to common stockholders:
Basic	$ 0.05	[1]	$ 1.25	[1]	$ 0.79	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ 1.26	[1]	$ 0.64	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 2.26	$ 2.39	$ 2.14
Diluted	$ 0.05	[1]	$ 1.20	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 1.22	[1]	$ 0.63	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 2.16	$ 2.34	$ 2.09
Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic																	134,203	135,888	141,233
Options to purchase common stock																	4,383	1,766	2,046
Warrants to purchase common stock																	800	605	147
Other dilutive securities																	543	443	588
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, Diluted																	139,929	138,702	144,014

[1] Earnings per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share may not equal the total computed for the year. In addition, for 2011, the per share information attributable to Expedia, Inc. common shareholders reflects the one-for-two reverse stock split in connection with the spin-off.