We booked a holiday in Cavelossim from 8 - 30 April. On 21 April we received a telephone call from the Olympic Rep. advising that we would return home the following day 22nd. She had no further information, other than Monarch were cancelling flights on 30/Apr. and 1/May. (volcanic ash incident) She rang later that day and advised we would now leave Fri.23rd or Sun.25th.
We left on Sat. 24th.
On arrival in London Gatwick in the early hours, 2.00am we had to find a hotel for the night. (also taxis to and from hotel) The next day we travelled back to Cardiff on National Express, having to amend our ticket.
In Goa the Olympic Rep gave me the contact number for their Customer Service in the UK re a refund for the missing part of our holiday, which I duly rang. They advised that I had to deal through Directline Holidays whom the original booking was made with. I rang Directline Hols who told me to scan receipts for our overnight stay and email them details of the holiday termination, which I did.
I have just received a letter from Directline enclosing Olympic's reply and I quote:

We acknowledge that the arrangements made by Olympic Holidays during the total ban on flights may not have been ideal, but please note that in view of the fact that as the flight ban made it impossible for any airline or package operator to comply with their contractual obligations towards their clients to return them to the UK, as confirmed in ABTA's advice to Tour Operators, we were not legally obliged to offer either accomodation or other welfare to affected passengers.
Furthermore, although under EC regulations air carriers have obligations toward clients delayed or whose flights have been cancelled (but not Tour Operators), it is highly questionable whether such a lengthy disruption in flight plans, and moreover without any fault on the part of the airlines, was ever envisaged.
Despite this we did offer, at the company's expense, accomodation on either self catering or a bed and breakfast basis, to all our clients, as a goodwill gesture.
We regret therefore that we are unable to extend any offer of compensation or refund or contribution toward expenses incurred.

As we were not stranded in Goa, but in fact had our holiday curtailled, the contents of their letter is totally irrelevant to us, though as they offered accomodation to their stranded clients abroad, why not offer that same goodwill gesture to us who were stranded in London on our return, at no fault of our own. We were made to return early, by Monarch.

We have'nt heard from Monarch at all.

I have emailed Directline voicing my complete dissatifaction at the reply from Olympic Holidays.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers Lolo.