Folks - thank you all for your welcomes and responses to date. It's my in-laws' family that will be staying in the 2nd room so I thought it would be a nice touch to stay in the Hyatt and use some points to get the nicer room (with the added wow-factor with the views in the RC).

If we automatically get the perks due to my diamond status - that's a bonus, but I'm not banking on it.

Given the feedback around non-guaranteed access for the 2nd room and underwhelming entry-level suites, I think it makes most sense for us to go for club rooms.

I know there's an existing thread on the HR vs GH in SF which detailed the pro's and con's (which I researched quite a bit before deciding!) and made me lean towards the HR. I'll keep an eye out for more recent feedback (post-renovation) in the GH before making a final decision - travelling date is in Aug.

Thanks again for your help once more!