Rwanda, set in middle of Africa’s sub-Saharan desert, is one of the last places you’d expect to find Western companies and investors. The site of massive genocide in 1994 and world-wide dis-renown will soon be home to a five-star Marriott and a four-star Radisson Hotel. These famous brand-names will bring jobs, money and prestige to the region. The country’s capital, Kigali, is building the Kigali International Convention Center. All three structures will open in 2012.

“There’s no denying that the past year in the Middle East and Africa has had its challenges,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “However, we are seeing pockets of resurgence throughout the region both in terms of new hotel development and in occupancies.”

Rwanda, with its central location on the African continent and a commitment to leaving its checkered past behind, could become a hub of tourism and industry in Africa, a much needed change for the country’s economy and image.

“This signing symbolizes the new optimism investors have in Rwanda, and further underlines our strong commitment to Africa – this emerging and promising continent is one of our key areas for future business development,” says Kurt Ritter, President and CEO or Rezidor Hotel Group, owners of the Radisson brand.

Own a timeshare in Rwanda? Mexico? Colorado? If you want to get out of your contract, contact Transfer Smart today.

Yes, this is the actual backyard.

Let’s say you live in perhaps the densest concrete jungle in the world, New York City. You have a small studio apartment located on the 100th floor of a high-rise building. There’s hardly enough space in there for your desk, but in your heart you wish you could throw a barbecue, complete with tiki torches and a slip-n’-slide, with all of your friends laughing and drinking around the grill.

Well now you can. At 145 Ludlow Street, New York, New York, you can throw the backyard grill party of your nature-loving dreams. Dubbed a Backyard Timeshare, a group called The Participation Agency will rent out an empty patch of land right in the heart of the city to you for the low price of $50/hour.

However, just like at a movie theatre, you can’t bring your own treats. The slip-n’-slide rental will cost you a flat $100, a grill built to serve 10 people is $150, a kiddie pool is $200, and having a live band play will cost a whopping five grand. You’re also capped to no more than thirty people total, and your party must stop at 8pm. Renters will also have to buy all food from the company.

A backyard timeshare sounds like fun, but it won’t carry a lifetime contract. Resort timeshares do, and if you want to get out of yours, Transfer Smart is here to help. Contact us today and inquire about our In-Writing Guarantee.

A Los Angeles area man and his son were sentenced to 12 years hard-time each this week for their involvement in a telemarketing scam.

Richard Cohen, of Sherman Oaks pleaded guilty to over 20 felony counts of fraud. He and his son formed numerous LLC’s with names such as Rig Leasing Inc. and Mintech International, then called people around the country claiming the companies were valuable and had stock for sale at a discount. But the companies had no value and provided no services, and their stock certificates were worthless. Cohen and his son did this for ten years, and bilked investors of around forty million dollars.

Investigation into the pair and their workers determined the companies and their stock to be fraudulent, and most of the money taken from victims was used to fund the Cohen’s lavish lifestyles, which included a mansion in Calabasas and luxury cars. One of their co-conspirators, a Josh Hoffman of Malibu, was sentenced to five years in prison. Mr. Hoffman told “investors” they were purchasing advertisements in reputable magazines.

Transfer Smart is not a telemarketing scam. We don’t ask for money upfront and have been in business since 2005, currently holding an “A” rating with the Better Business Bureau. If you have a timeshare contract you’re tired of paying into, we offer a 100% IN-WRITING GUARANTEE we will get you out of it if you qualify. Contact us today.

The W. Hotel Los Angeles

Starwood Hotels, the owner of Sheraton, Westin, and W Hotels, is having a “Dream Vacation” contest on Facebook.

They’re taking advantage of their world-wide reach and encouraging prospective vacationers to submit a story or a picture about what their dream vacation would be. The Grand Prize winner will receive roundtrip airfare for two to anywhere in America and a 5 night stay at a Starwood resort and $1,000 in cash. Two finalists will each win a two night stay at any Starwood hotel in North America.

The company will pick out ten finalists and put their stories or photos on Facebook. Site users will vote on which person’s dream vacation they like the best, and the story with the most votes will win the Grand Prize. According to Starwood’s Facebook site, the winner will be judged on “inventiveness and popularity.”

Ghent Light Festival last year.

This weekend in Belgium enjoy the famous Ghent Light Festival. There will be an art trail, food, and of course, lights. Over forty artists from around the world will show off different creative works, such as films, music and paintings. People here speak Dutch, French, English and many dialects of those languages, which is unsurprising as Belgium is the world’s home of the United Nations.

Ghent has plenty more to offer than just art. Café’s, weekend markets, historic plazas and waterside walks are simultaneously quaint and enjoyable. Must-sees include the Patershol district, with its many restaurants; Temmerman Sweets; St. Bavo’s Cathedral; and a walk by the Grassley River. Watch the famous K.A.A. Gent football team play at the Jules Ottenstadion downtown. The club came in 2nd place in their division in 2010.

Visit Ghent’s official website for more information.

A Venice canal.

Venice is on most people’s travel lists, but the thought of a vacation here can bring up questions about pricing, lodging and what sights are worth seeing and which aren’t. Fear not, Transfer Smart has some tips for you to get the most out of your stay here.

Take a water taxi, stay away from the gondolas.

Though much more expensive, the water taxi will get you to your destination more quickly and reliably than the gondolas. And they make gondola rides feel slow and touristy.

Pick an Apartment over a Hotel.

Surprisingly enough, the nightlife in Venice is not that great. Most places are closed by 3AM, and there are a lot of tourist traps. Venetian Apartments will square you away with a studio for $900/four nights or one bedrooms for $1000 to $1200. The space and peace and quiet is well worth it, and those prices are available year-round.

Visit the di Rialto.

Make sure you visit Venice’s first church, the San Giacomo di Rialto. The market in front of the Church is where all of Venice comes to buy its fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood. That includes baby octopi, prawns, crabs, and fresh caught fish from local canals. Around the street is the local bacaro, a small outdoor mall with café’s that are cooking up some of the delights you just saw in the market.

Ditch the tourist traps and experience Venice as a local.

Getting lost amongst the churches, squares, bacaros and museums is romantic, not looking in a brochure for your next order. Wander through the Cannaregio or St. Mark’s squares, or the Ghetto (not what you’re thinking) and watch kids play football in the streets. Dorsoduro to the south is a suburb full of tiny alleyways and small, friendly bars. Home to Santa Margherita, it houses many students of the local university and offers cheap drinks. Finally, enjoy an opera at the Musica a Palazzo. This cozy theatre seats less than 100 people and offers a more intimate setting than the famous La Fenice. Get a great seat up front and follow the performers as they act out the opera in one of the three rooms for an enchanting evening.

Victoria Bay and the iconic Bruce Lee.

On January 23rd, China celebrated its New Year. The “Spring Festival” marks the end of the winter season, and starts new growth, relationships and beginnings.
To see it in person is to visit one of the crown jewels of the East. Catching a flight tomorrow and coming back four days later will set you back about $1100 if you travel from LAX and don’t mind a two hour layover in Japan.

Hong Kong Airport is in Chep Lap Kok, just 20 miles north of downtown. Catching a train downtown from is only $10, or you can splurge on a taxi for about $30.

The Hotel Intercontinental downtown is highly respected and for good reason. Stay on a top floor and get a great view of Hong Kong harbor. Or go even further and lavish yourself in the Ritz-Carlton, whose ground floor is the 102nd floor of the International Commerce Center tower, making it the world’s highest hotel.

A must is the Star Ferry. Fare can be had for less than a dollar, and its views of Victoria Harbor have been enjoyed since 1888. From there, visit Hollywood Road to see shops boasting arts and antiques. Be sure to go up the world’s longest escalator, which is found on Pass Shelly Street. Take a walk in Kowloon Park for free. There’s an aviary, a flamingo lake with turtles, a sculpture park and a large swimming pool that offers fun for the whole family.

To eat on the run, try Dim Sum. These bite-sized portions of spring rolls, spare ribs or dumplings can be found at many street-side restaurants and for an inexpensive price. For dinner, try the “Ma La” chili prawns. This dish isn’t too hot and sure to fill your stomach right.

Finally, cheap shopping abounds in Hong Kong. Buy an iPad for about $100 less than you would in the States, or get three designer suits at the Burlington Arcade for only $500. The tailors are all extremely helpful, and most know English as Hong Kong was a British colony.

Transfer Smart can get you out of your timeshare contract GUARANTEED, even if it was bought in Hong Kong! Contact us today.