VIP Travel Checklist

12 weeks out: entry, aircraft and the plan

Your principal lands in twelve weeks, and nothing about the visit may leak. Work back from that date.

Start with entry rules for every passport in the party. A VIP travel checklist for Thailand begins here, because the rules for staff, crew and guests can differ. Nationals of 60 countries get up to 30 days without a visa, for tourism only. Anyone working on the trip, such as a film crew, needs a work visa.

The point teams miss: crew and staff may need a different visa from the principal. Check every passport in the party, not only the guest's.

The countdown above holds the four entry checks in order: a visa or exemption for every passport, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (tdac.immigration.go.th only), aircraft permission from the CAAT, and the private jet terminal at Phuket, Don Mueang or U-Tapao.

See our guide to private jet arrivals for the detail.

8 weeks out: security

Book a licensed Thai security firm early. Each guard must be a licensed Thai national, so your own team can plan and advise, but local guards do the guarding. Agree the routes, the venues to sweep and the people who may approach the principal. Book the core protection team now, then add officers as the plan grows. Extra cover can join on about 2 hours' notice, in 4-, 8- or 24-hour blocks.

☐ Licensed Thai firm and guards booked

☐ Your own team briefed as advisers, not as working guards

☐ Routes, venue checks and a contact list agreed

Our advance team and security guide explains how the work is split. Our VIP security service books the licensed team.

6 weeks out: the stay

Choose a gated villa or a whole hotel floor or suite wing. Ask how the staff handle privacy, and agree who may enter. We never put a villa's name in any document shared outside the core team. Our whole team has signed an NDA with VIP Luxury Services, and we can arrange a separate NDA for you.

☐ Gated villa or hotel floor confirmed

☐ Staff list and access rules agreed

☐ Delivery, laundry and room-service routes kept away from public areas

Read more in our guide to private stays.

4 weeks out: movement and venues

Plan every movement with chauffeured cars and vans, and a second car on standby. Helicopters land on the runway at the main airports. At resorts, use only a helipad the resort itself shows: Anantara Layan in Phuket has one. For dinners and nights out, book private rooms or a full venue. Our verdict: a full venue is the one to book when privacy matters most.

☐ Cars, vans and standby car booked

☐ Helicopter transfers confirmed with landing points

☐ Private rooms or venue takeovers booked

☐ Koh Samui flights planned within the airport's 06:00-22:00 hours

Arrival day

Our host meets the party at the private jet terminal or in the arrivals hall. The host walks you through, using the priority lane where your ticket or status allows. This is a private meet-and-assist service we book for you. Bags and cars are ready at the kerb.

☐ Host and car confirmed for the arrival time

☐ Passports ready; Thailand Privilege members may use the priority lane

☐ Bags tagged and handled by the host

Privacy, filming and social media

Drones must be registered with both the NBTC and the CAAT, with third-party insurance of at least ฿1,000,000. Filming in a national park needs an application 5 business days ahead. The Thailand Film Office sets a daily fee of ฿3,000 to ฿3,500. Insulting the monarchy is a serious crime in Thailand, including online posts.

The checklist covers the three decisions to make before arrival: drone or no drone, a film coordinator for any commercial shoot, and a social media plan agreed with the principal.

Health and contingencies

Note the nearest international hospital before you arrive. In Bangkok, Bumrungrad International, Samitivej Sukhumvit, BNH and Vejthani are on the JCI list. In Phuket, Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Siriroj are both JCI-accredited. Emergency numbers are 191 for police, 1155 for the tourist police and 1669 for an ambulance.

☐ Hospital and doctor on call noted for each city

☐ Prescription medicines checked: the Thai FDA allows up to a 30-day supply of some controlled medicines with a prescription. 31 to 90 days needs a permit

Plan it with Tanner

Tanner handles every moving part for your team. Tell him who is travelling, when and what must stay private. One team plans the aircraft, the cars, licensed security, the stay and the venues, on one written quote. One person answers your calls. Start with our celebrity and VIP planning page.