Related party transactions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 12, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Associated PIK dividends				$ 0	$ 114,381
Amount of transaction with related party (less than $0.1 million for affiliate of the Real Shareholder)		$ 4,849	$ 3,678	9,517	16,682
Lease payments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount of transaction with related party (less than $0.1 million for affiliate of the Real Shareholder)		255	269	472	578
Chief Executive Officer | Lease payments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount of transaction with related party (less than $0.1 million for affiliate of the Real Shareholder)		$ 300	300	$ 500	600
Affiliate of the Real Shareholder | Lease payments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount of transaction with related party (less than $0.1 million for affiliate of the Real Shareholder)			$ 100		$ 100
Pace Business Combination
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.40
Face value	$ 239,500
Associated PIK dividends	$ 114,400
Pace Business Combination | HI Holdings Playa
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.40
Face value	$ 196,000
Associated PIK dividends	$ 93,600
Pace Business Combination | Real Shareholder
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchase price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.40
Face value	$ 43,500
Associated PIK dividends	$ 20,800