Where has my angel child gone? Advice needed for bedtime & nastiness!

[Jaffakake]

I'm currently on my last day of a weeks holiday in France. My gorgeous, perfectly behaved ds (2.11) has, in the last 3 days, been replaced with a little monster.

We've gone from falling asleep in seconds, albeit with us sitting in his room, to shouting, throwing, biting & pinching & remaining awake for over an hour past his bedtime. I'm sure he's overtired but the level of nastiness is something new & never experienced. Anything this week we've wanted him to do, which he hasn't agreed with, he's resorted to this behaviour. For example, walking off a blazing hot beach I was carrying him so he wouldn't burn his feet ( although mine bloody were) & although explaining to him before & during what I was doing & why I got hit & pinched in the face!

Is this par for the course with toddlers on holiday, somewhere new & out if routine? Is it time for the naughty step or reward chart when we get home? Not only do I want to nip this in the bud so he's not horrible to others I certainly don't want a strong & boisterous 3.? old when I'm on my own most nights.

Any experiences or suggestions as to strategies for when we get home tomorrow, great fully appreciated x x

I recently posted a question about whether holidays with 2 year olds were always this bad - after a week of tantrums and being whinged at. My DD's behaviour was worse away than at home. The unanimous response was yes, holidays (especially abroad) with toddlers are always horrible, they are all out of sorts and a lot of people had the same problem. If it's really out of character, he's bound to be better when you get home. My DD has been in a much better mood since we got back! In the meantime, my best advice is wine....oh and earplugs.

Phew! Wine ... Check in abundance earplugs ... Check on account of dh snoring like a mammoth!

Ha yes the earplugs serve the same dual purpose for me too thanks to DH!
I vowed no more foreign holidays again until DD is at least...well, 18. Hope your DS doesn't terrorise you too much for the end of your holiday, the ungrateful little tikes have no respect for carefully laid plans for a nice relaxing getaway in the sun!