Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 M	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock options [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Shares [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Liability Based Awards [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Restricted Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Restricted Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Alaskan Park Properties Inc [Member] Rooms GuestCabins	Mar. 07, 2012 Banff International Hotel [Member] Rooms	Dec. 31, 2012 Glacier Park Inc [Member] Property Vehicle Lodges	Dec. 31, 2012 Building [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Building [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Equipment [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Software [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Software [Member] Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of lodges										5
Number of motor inns										3
Numbers of hotel										1
Percentage of owned subsidiary of Viad										80.00%
Number of guest rooms								42	162
Number of guest cabins								46
Property, plant and equipment, useful life											40 years	15 years	12 years	3 years	10 years	3 years
Share based compensation arrangements vesting period						5 years	3 years
Share based compensation arrangements requisite service period		5 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Remaining maturities of highly-liquid investments	three months or less
Contracts completion period	3
Percent of shares vest on the third anniversary of the grant	40.00%
Percent of increments over the subsequent two anniversary dates	30.00%
Performance Based Restricted Stock awards description and terms	PBRS is subject to a graded vesting schedule whereby one third of the earned shares vest after the first year and the remaining earned shares vest in one-third increments each year over the next two years on the first business day in January.