‘Betting on Paradise’ Couple ‘Gambled Everything’ on Costa Rican Dream 

A couple tries to turn their dream of an idyllic life in Costa Rica into reality in the new HGTV series Betting on Paradise. 

The six-episode, Renovation Island-esque show – which premieres Jan. 7 – follows Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt as they work to transform a crumbling hotel in a seaside community into a luxurious travel destination. The stakes, both financial and personal, are high, but the potential rewards are tremendous. Will Luke and Steph’s combined background in construction and high-end hospitality be enough to overcome the challenges they face in their efforts to bring their new hotel to life in time for peak tourist season? 

Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt say they ‘gambled everything’ to open new hotel  

Luke and Steph took a huge risk when they bought a decrepit property in the coastal town of Jacó, Costa Rica, sight unseen. Now, they and their two young children have relocated to the Central American country to pursue their biggest project yet. To turn the run-down spot into a luxe boutique hotel, Luke and Steph have turned to friends and investors for financial support. If they fail, they face financial ruin. 

“We’ve gambled everything on this hotel, and we’re all in,” said Luke. “We don’t have anything to fall back on at this point.” 

“The motel is closed, so money is going out and nothing is coming in,” said Steph. “We need to open as soon as possible, because right now we’re just in the red.” 

Can the ‘Betting on Paradise’ couple make their dreams come true?

In the series premiere of Betting on Paradise, Luke and Steph get a first look at their big purchase, and what they find is unsettling. There’s damage at every turn, and some of the hotel’s rooms are completely beyond repair. As they begin to navigate a complex renovation process in a foreign country, they confront the start of the area’s rainy season as they imagine what the hotel could look like in its finished state.  

Throughout Betting on Paradise, Luke and Steph manage a massive overhaul of the property, which features nine guest rooms, including a honeymoon suite and two casitas, a lobby, and pool with an outdoor bar. At the same time, they’ll explore their new home with their two daughters and prepare for their own intimate seaside wedding.  

Whatever happens, Luke and Steph can’t wait for people to follow them on their one-of-a-kind journey. 

“The wait is OVER!” they wrote on Instagram after the show was announced. “After a long year of dreaming, scheming, and a *little* nail-biting, *Betting on Paradise* is FINALLY hitting your screens! Catch us turning our wildest visions into reality as we bet big on Costa Rican paradise vibes.”

Betting on Paradise premieres Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV. 

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