Are you dreading those long drives to the coast etc? And the kids always shout "I'm bored" or "Are we there yet?" Well fear not, the solution is simple, why not stack up on travel games! They're big enough to keep the kids quiet, yet small enough to fit in the tiniest space, even a handbag. Also suitable for boat, train and plane travel.

There are old favorites like, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chess, Backgammon, Checkers and Solitaire. No need to worry about pieces going missing as they are magnetic, so they don't fall off the board and onto the floor or down the side of seats. They pack away easily so there's no fuss. You can buy as a complete set or individually.

Activity books are also great when traveling. Some come as an activity pack, that includes crayons and their own plastic wallet, these have coloring in, puzzles and games. Ideal for the younger ones.

Dice even playing cards, can be put into a pocket they can be used anywhere even on the floor.

Other travel games such as, Monopoly, Scrabble, Othello, Connect 4, Battleships, Cluedo and Trivial Pursuit are smaller versions of the original board game. These don't have magnetic pieces. They can be stored in car door pockets, or in children's backpacks, to be played on planes, trains and boats, as well as in the car.

Of course you don't have to pay for keeping the kids quiet, you could always make up games of your own, such as Geography, you take it in turns, starting from the letter A then B and so on, you can use countries, towns, street names, and villages. Or you could use the last letter of the previous word for the next one, either of these are great fun when you get to the letter Y, as it gets harder. Or you could take paper and pen and make your own crosswords. There's also I Spy.

Travel games can be bought at toyshops, online, even newsagents and supermarkets have started stocking them. The magnetic ones are $2-$3 each, and the miniature ones range from $6 to around $15. The complete sets vary from stockist to stockist.

These games are not expensive, but well worth investing in, just to keep everyone happy and relaxed. Have a great summer!