Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 974,859		$ 1,199,020		$ 1,039,980		$ 816,488		$ 787,133	$ 1,020,450	$ 913,591	$ 727,835	$ 4,030,347	$ 3,449,009	$ 3,033,645
Adjusted EBITDA													802,875	710,835	700,482
Depreciation													(164,247)	(133,009)	(105,531)
Amortization of intangible assets													(31,705)	(21,925)	(22,514)
Stock-based compensation													(64,596)	(63,847)	(52,507)
Legal reserves, occupancy tax and other													(117,025)	(20,855)	(22,692)
Realized loss on revenue hedges													6,422	8,410	3,549
Operating income	1,510	[1]	227,090	[1]	154,441	[1]	48,683	[1]	91,645	209,099	143,707	35,158	431,724	479,609	500,787
Other expense, net													(81,667)	(77,537)	(74,948)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes													350,057	402,072	425,839
Provision for income taxes													(47,078)	(75,731)	(120,342)
Income from continuing operations	7,095	[2]	168,188	[2]	106,109	[2]	21,587	[2]	60,465	171,840	88,133	5,903	302,979	326,341	305,497
Discontinued operations, net of taxes													(22,539)	148,262	120,063
Net income													280,440	474,603	425,560
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests													(269)	(2,309)	(4,060)
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	6,734		171,477		105,241		(3,281)		70,328	209,534	140,393	52,039	280,171	472,294	421,500
Leisure
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													3,738,955	3,269,721	2,890,611
Adjusted EBITDA													1,073,226	982,339	945,596
Depreciation													(74,982)	(56,593)	(44,198)
Realized loss on revenue hedges													6,422	8,410	3,549
Operating income													1,004,666	934,156	904,947
Egencia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue													291,392	179,288	143,034
Adjusted EBITDA													53,207	28,789	25,076
Depreciation													(12,031)	(8,349)	(7,506)
Operating income													41,176	20,440	17,570
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Adjusted EBITDA													(323,558)	(300,293)	(270,190)
Depreciation													(77,234)	(68,067)	(53,827)
Amortization of intangible assets													(31,705)	(21,925)	(22,514)
Stock-based compensation													(64,596)	(63,847)	(52,507)
Legal reserves, occupancy tax and other													(117,025)	(20,855)	(22,692)
Operating income													$ (614,118)	$ (474,987)	$ (421,730)

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2012, we recognized $110 million related to monies expected to be paid in advance of litigation related to Hawaii's General Excise Tax.

[2] The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2012 was 144.4% primarily due to lower than previously estimated full year pre-tax income, driven by the tax reserves accrued during the quarter related to Hawaii.