In the world of home renovation TV, the phrase “Costa Rican paradise” usually conjures images of lush jungles, pristine beaches, and infinity pools. But on the next Betting on Paradise, paradise gets a little less pura vida and a lot more problematic. Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt, the intrepid couple behind this ambitious project, are about to discover that turning a rundown motel into a luxury destination isn’t all sunsets and cocktails.
This week, their dream renovation takes a sharp, unexpected detour into sinkhole territory. While tackling the less glamorous side of construction – the sewage system, to be precise – the couple unearths a geological surprise that threatens to swallow their budget whole. Suddenly, those carefully crafted spreadsheets and optimistic timelines are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
As the sinkhole saga unfolds, the renovation schedule implodes, leaving Luke and Steph scrambling to contain the damage. While Luke grapples with this subterranean curveball, Steph races to keep progress on the honeymoon suite renovation from falling behind. But the sinkhole isn’t the only challenge these two face. Just when it seems things can’t get any worse, a shipment of windows arrives sans screens. It would be a farcical touch in a screwball comedy; it’s slightly less funny when it happens to be the windows for the honeymoon suite of your luxury resort.
Will Luke and Steph find a way to bridge the budget gap created by the sinkhole? Will their dream resort be ready in time? And most importantly, will those screens arrive before the honeymoon suite is invaded by the local insect population? Tune in to find out.
Betting on Paradise airs Tuesday, January 14, 2025, on HGTV.