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Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2009
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Oct. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2006
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Dec. 31, 2011
Q1 2012 [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
eLong [Member]
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May 31, 2011
eLong [Member]
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May 31, 2011
Tencent Holdings [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Common Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Common Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class B Common Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Class B Common Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Preferred Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Reverse Split Adjusted Basis [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Reverse Split Adjusted Basis [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Treasury Stock [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Treasury Stock [Member]
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| Class of Stock [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock par value, pre split | $ 0.001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock par value, post split | $ 0.0001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock, shares authorized | 1,600,000,000 | 1,600,000,000 | 400,000,000 | 400,000,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Common stock, par value | $ 0.0001 | $ 0.0001 | $ 0.0001 | $ 0.0001 | |||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock, par value | $ 22.23 | $ 22.23 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total number of directors elected by holders of common stock, voting as single class, percentage | 25.00% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock dividend, percentage | 1.99% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of voting rights to each shareholder, per share | 1 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Preferred stock merger cash payment | $ 17,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declaration date | Feb. 09, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends record date | Mar. 12, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorized share repurchase | 20,000,000 | 20,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased, value | 282,873,000 | 489,254,000 | 282,873,000 | 489,254,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock repurchased, shares | 10,600,000 | 20,600,000 | 5,314,000 | 10,308,101 | |||||||||||||||
| Average repurchase price per share | $ 26.60 | $ 23.71 | $ 53.20 | $ 47.42 | |||||||||||||||
| Remaining authorized share repurchase | 8,800,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends per share | $ 0.09 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Expedia, Inc. | 463,747,000 | 409,318,000 | 318,907,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Additional ownership interest purchased, percent | 16.00% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ownership interest, purchase price | 84,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Additional ownership interest purchased, price | 93,000,000 | 41,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ownership interest | 60.00% | 67.00% | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquired additional interest of majority owned subsidiaries | $ 22,000,000 | $ 78,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||