Employee Stock Ownership Feature of 401 (k) Plan (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Amounts paid by ESOP for:
Debt repayment	$ 1,647	$ 1,490	$ 1,518
Interest	5	8	12
Amounts received from Viad as:
Contributions	1,604	1,435	1,444
Dividends	$ 48	$ 63	$ 86

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.

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

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 93-6

-Paragraph 25

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

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