Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income		$ 7,918	$ 30,571	$ 28,078	$ 61,599
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized losses on investments, net of tax(1)	[1]	(153)	(67)	(20)	(17)
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax(1)	[1]	(11,491)	(9,799)	(23,117)	(9,950)
Amortization of net actuarial gain, net of tax(1)	[1]	139	183	475	438
Amortization of prior service credit, net of tax(1)	[1]	(86)	(252)	(257)	(470)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(3,673)	20,636	5,159	51,600
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(688)	(951)	(515)	(3,355)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Viad		$ (4,361)	$ 19,685	$ 4,644	$ 48,245

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