LIKE comedy, good holiday money-saving is about timing. Unlike comedy, people don’t groan when I try it. The key to minimum cost and maximum holiday enjoyment is pre-planning. So here are my top ten need-to-know-nows if you’re heading abroad in 2012.

● 1. You need insurance in place when you book.

Otherwise, if something goes wrong, you won’t be covered for cancellation. Annual policies are cheaper if you go away more than twice a year. Don’t buy it from the travel agent – European policies can be as little as £17 a year or £31 for a family – rising to £25 and £35 for worldwide. Full info at moneysavingexpert.com/ travelinsurance

● 2. Check your EHIC hasn’t expired.

More than million European Health Insurance Cards run out in 2012. Free EHIC cards get you treatment in state-run EU hospitals at the same price as locals. Cards need renewing after five years, but don’t google – you may end up on a scam site that charges for renewal. The official site’s ehic.org.uk

● 3. Grab specialist overseas cards for unbeatable exchange rates.

By far the cheapest way to spend abroad is on the right plastic, by far the most expensive is the wrong plastic. Apply now for one of the specialist cheap cards to only use it only for when you’re abroad. Spend abroad and most credit and debit cards add a hidden three per cent. Yet if you’ve a decent credit score, there are specialist load-free credit cards just for overseas use. The website travelmoneymax.com shows the cheapest for each country.

● 4. Not all flight comparisons do the same job. With scheduled flights, booking early usually saves cash.

When you’ve specific a date and destination, try Skyscanner.net (for ease), Kayak.co.uk (for gizmos) and Travelsupermarket.com (for breadth). To find when (or even where) to go to get dirt-cheap budget Europe flights, use my flightchecker.co.uk. Enter a wide date range and it finds all flights under a certain value. For charter flights to popular tourist destinations, try Flightsdirect.com and Avro.co.uk

● 5. Book car hire early and it can be under £10 a day.

Don’t leave it till you land. Usually early booking using comparison sites Kayak.co.uk and Carrentals.co.uk can slash up to 70 per cent off the price.

● 6. Don’t fall for car hire firms ‘excess’ insurance.

Hire firms put the frighteners on you by saying “have a scratch and you pay £500 excess” to sell their £10 or more daily additional ‘no excess’ policies. You can do it up to 90 per cent cheaper via the Moneymaxim.co.uk comparison site, which sells standalone excess policies.

● 7. Book airport parking before you go. Leaving a car at the airport can cost more than a holiday.

If you’ve no choice, booking early cuts costs. Use specialist comparison sites like Skyparksecure.com and Aph.com, plus see the list of extra promotional discounts atmoneysavingexpert.com/ airportparking

● 8. Don’t be dazzled by hotel star ratings.

There’s no standardised for star systems nationally, never mind internationally. Most are based on a hotel’s facilities, not quality. While far from perfect, check Tripadvisor.co.uk and similar sites for feedback to find a hotel. Then use the cost-cutting techniques in my moneysavingexpert. com/cheaphotel

● 9. Travel agents may beat the web for hot and cheap.

Don’t assume the web always wins. Package holidays can still smash it on price, especially for seven, 10 or 14 days in traditional resorts.

If you’re getting a package and need specific facilities, book asap for this summer to get early discounts. If you’re flexible, wait until a few weeks before to grab a hotly discounted late bargain.

And, remember, different agents may sell the same holiday at different prices – ring to see who’ll give it you cheapest.

● 10. Don’t turn your nose up at hostels.

Many are clean, have private rooms and for around £10 per person per night will include breakfast. Find them via hostelbookers.com and Hostelworld.com