Employee Stock Ownership Feature of 401Plan - Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amounts paid by ESOP for:
Debt repayment	$ 1,280	$ 1,647	$ 1,490
Interest	1	5	8
Amounts received from Viad as:
Contributions	1,202	1,604	1,435
Dividends	$ 79	$ 48	$ 63

This item represents the amount of cash contributions during the period made by the entity to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCashContributionsToESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash provided by the employer through contributions or dividends that the ESOP used in the period to repay debt and interest on a third-party loan made directly to the ESOP.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 25

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418455&loc=d3e16545-113920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDebtStructureDirectLoanEmployerCashPaymentsUsedForDebtService
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Dividends paid on stock held by an employee stock ownership plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDividendsPaidToESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

An entity often discloses the amount of interest paid by the ESOP to a lender.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 25

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418455&loc=d3e16545-113920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPInterestPaymentsFromESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

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