Stockholders' Equity - Reconciliation of Stockholders' Equity to Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 356,543		$ 397,032
Net income	24,419		7,790
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(32,517)		(2,034)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(1,042)		(1,187)
Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Employee Benefit Plans	2,052		1,792
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax(1)	(6,733)	[1]	(6,128)	[1]
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax(1)	9	[1]	61	[1]
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax			41
ESOP Allocation Adjustment	44		250
Stockholders' Equity, Other	47		1
Ending Balance	342,813		397,618
Total Viad Equity
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	347,441		388,061
Net income	21,882		8,065
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(32,517)		(2,034)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(1,042)		(1,187)
Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Employee Benefit Plans	2,052		1,792
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax(1)	(6,733)		(6,128)
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax(1)			61
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax			41
ESOP Allocation Adjustment	44		250
Stockholders' Equity, Other	46		1
Ending Balance	331,173		388,922
Non-Controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	9,102		8,971
Net income	2,537		(275)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	0		0
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	0		0
Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Employee Benefit Plans	0		0
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax(1)	0		0
Unrealized gains on investments, net of tax(1)			0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax			0
ESOP Allocation Adjustment	0		0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	1		0
Ending Balance	$ 11,640		$ 8,696

[1] The tax effect on other comprehensive income (loss) is not significant.