Is holidaying with a 2 year old always this bad??

[notmuchofaclue]

We've taken 2 year old DD away for a week abroad, looking for some quality family time which we really needed. The problem is, since we've been here she's done nothing but whinge and go into meltdown, she has decided she hates swimming so won't go near any one of the numerous pools around, and is just generally making it all a bit stressful.
Has anyone else had this experience on holiday with a 2yo, or am I just not doing it right??

Same shit, different bucket - holidays with small children.

Of course there's always someone who backpacked around Antarctica with 6 children under 4 whilst teaching them Mandarin.

And there's the rest of us who either stick with Devon and Cornwall as even the Isle of Wight seems too much. Or Mark Warner with wall to wall childcare. Except you've still got to survive the flight

Well I'm glad to know I don't have the only pool-dodger! She also isn't a fan of soft play, or indeed any activity that might involve getting too close to other children!! So being surrounded by a lot of other children and numerous swimming pools is probably her ideal of hell with hindsight! And yes, the heat really hasn't helped, it's been 8 or 9 degrees hotter than it should have been at this time of year and we've all struggled. Cue lots of sitting in doors (in not so great accommodation) to stay out of the heat.
I think lowering expectations is definitely key - that and staying in the UK in future!! I had some picture postcard image of how it would be as we were so desperate for some time together - in practice of course, we've driven each other nuts and wondered why we bothered!
Great idea re. the little boat. She was tempted into playing with a cup by the side of the pool so we bought some more plastic cup thingies. And today is cloudy and a lot cooler, maybe this will be a better day! Just maybe...
Now pass me the wine...

My ds has always been difficult to take on holiday. He is a real home body and struggles with any kind of change. He also never slept well in a strange place so we were all really tired which made it even worse!

Dd is completely different and has always been pretty easy to travel with. Or maybe ds was being so difficult I just didn't notice her!

The holiday we went on at Easter was the first on he actually enjoyed. He was 7. On the last day he didn't want to go home as he was having such a great time and I nearly cried with joy.

So chin up OP, only 5 years of misery left to go

Oh and yes to staying in the UK which is at least more familiar to them. My parents live in the Middle East and going to visit them was really difficult. Especially as their expectations of behaviour are HIGH... After the last trip when ds was 6 we said never again but I think we will have to bite the bullet at some stage!

My DD hated the sand. She wouldn't put one foot on it even with shoes on. In the end we made a large play area out of a few towels and she happily played by the sun lounger in the shade next to me.

Yes totally normal I'm afraid. Good new is it gets much, much better each year. Holidays with DS started to be properly enjoyable from about the age of 4.

Two year olds don't like change, they don't like sleeping in a different place, many often find it overstimulating.

My two were always fine in the day on hols as they found it exciting. Nightmare sleeping tho.

Now they are 5 and closer to 3 we are hoping for better sleep this summer !