Represents the amount of claims against the entity that were compromised by the settlement.

No definition available.

Name:	pcln_ClaimsCompromisedBySettlement
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate gross profit, including fees, earned by the entity since inception.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_EstimatedGrossProfitSinceInception
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of cities from which the entity has received notices of audits or administrative procedures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingenciesAuditNoticesReceivedNumberOfCities
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of putative class action complaints filed during the period in which the entity was named as one of the defendants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingenciesNumberOfPutativeClassActionComplainsFiled
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of municipalities or counties which have initiated audit proceedings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyAuditProceedingsNumberOfMunicipalitiesAndCounties
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Of the administrative and audit proceedings that were pending at period end, this element represents the number which commenced during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyAuditProceedingsNumberOfMunicipalitiesAndCountiesCommencingDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the number of states which have initiated audit proceedings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyAuditProceedingsNumberOfStates
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the number of consumer lawsuits in which the reporting entity was involved.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyNumberOfConsumerLawsuits
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the number of lawsuits in which the reporting entity was involved.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyNumberOfLawsuits
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Of the lawsuits that were pending at period end, this element represents the number which commenced during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyNumberOfLawsuitsCommencingDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the tax assessment issued by the tax authority including interest and penalties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_LossContingencyTaxInterestAndPenaltiesAssessed
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the period as per settlement agreement for which the plaintiff has agreed not to assert claims based on ordinances at issue in the action, high end of the range.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_NonAssertionAgreementByPlaintiffPeriodHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the period as per settlement agreement for which the plaintiff has agreed not to assert claims based on ordinances at issue in the action, low end of the range.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_NonAssertionAgreementByPlaintiffPeriodLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the minimum number of taxing jurisdictions in which the entity has operated.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_NumberOfTaxingJurisdictionsMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the high end of the range of the aggregate tax rates in taxing jurisdictions in which the entity operates during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_TaxingJurisdictionsAggregateTaxRatesHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the low end of the range of the aggregate tax rates in taxing jurisdictions in which the entity operates during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pcln_TaxingJurisdictionsAggregateTaxRatesLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	pcln_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011 Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member] Cases Years	Jun. 30, 2001 Litigation Related to Securities Matters Cases	Dec. 31, 2010 Litigation Related to Securities Matters	Dec. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member] GovernmentalUnit	Dec. 31, 2011 US Merchant Hotel Business [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member] tax_jurisdiction	Dec. 31, 2010 US Merchant Hotel Business [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 State of California Minimum [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member] GovernmentalUnit	Jul. 31, 2009 City of San Francisco [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cities in Arizona Other then Pheonix [Member] Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 UTAH Litigation Related to Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes [Member]
Hotel Occupany and Other Taxes
Approximate number of lawsuits brought by or against states, cities and counties over issues involving the payment of hotel occupancy and other taxes	50
Number of consumer class actions	1
Minimum number of states which have initiated audit proceedings				6
Minimum number of municipalities and counties which have initiated audit proceedings				60			40
Assessed taxes including interest and penalties (in dollars)								$ 3,400,000
Estimated gross profit earned since inception (in dollars)					1,400,000,000
Minimum number of taxing jurisdictions					1,000
Aggregate tax rates, low end of the range (as a percent)					6.00%
Aggregate tax rates, high end of the range (as a percent)					18.00%
Reserve for the potential resolution of issues related to hotel occupancy and other taxes (in dollars)					33,000,000	26,000,000
Number of currently pending lawsuits that commenced in period	6
Number of currently pending administrative proceedings that commenced in period	7
Non-assertion period as per agreement, low end of the range (in years)	2
Non-assertion period as per agreement, high end of the range (in years)	4
Number of putative class action complaints filed		4
Audit notices and administrative procedures, number of cities									12	5
Claims against the Company compromised by the settlement (in dollars)			$ 300,000