Stockholders' Equity - Effects of Changes in Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	May 21, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Expedia, Inc.	$ 79,457	$ 279,331	$ 31,649	$ (108,589)	$ (12,538)	$ 283,216	$ 449,644	$ 44,143	$ 281,848	$ 764,465	$ 398,097
Net decrease in Expedia, Inc.’s paid-in capital related to trivago IPO									0
Net increase (decrease) in Expedia, Inc.’s paid-in capital for newly issued eLong shares and other equity activity									274	5,807	25,023
Change from net income attributable to Expedia, Inc. and transfers from non-controlling interest									249,707	760,267	422,187
Additional paid-in capital
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net decrease in Expedia, Inc.’s paid-in capital related to trivago IPO									(32,141)	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in Expedia, Inc.’s paid-in capital for newly issued eLong shares and other equity activity									0	(4,198)	24,090
Net transfers from non-controlling interest									$ (32,141)	$ (4,198)	$ 24,090
Air Asia Expedia
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage	75.00%				75.00%				75.00%	75.00%
Trivago
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage	59.70%								59.70%
eLong
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership interest percentage												62.40%