Hi again,
A couple quick notes on our recent stay in Switzerland:
We're probably the only doofuses who didn't understand this, but the Chateau de Chillon in Montreux is open until 7 p.m. -- an old RS book lists closing time as 6 p.m., but that's just the last entry time. You still have an hour to enjoy the castle.
RS lists the Vevey backpackers hostel as a budget accommodation for Montreux. In the opposite direction (toward the Chateau), a 20-minute walk from the Montreux station, is another great option: the Hostelling International youth hostel in Territet. Super clean, friendly management, private rooms w/ WC, and great breakfast. We balked at the high hotel prices in Montreux, and this was a perfectly good alternative.
On the Friday morning Golden Pass panoramic train from Montreux to Interlaken, there were plenty of open seats in second-class. We were happy we hadn't paid extra for seat reservations.
In the Berner Oberland, go EARLY for the Schilthorn or Jungfrau. Both days of our visit, the summits were clear early in the morning and getting cloudy by about 10 a.m.