Hotel Dufour Chalet

Hotel Dufour Chalet is a smaller, more affordable option in a village where many beds are expensive. It stands at Riedstrasse 35, about a ten minute walk from Zermatt station and from the Gornergrat railway station, and it falls in the three-star class. The room types are Comfort Double, Superior Double and Suite, and the hotel supplies the things that make a mountain stay comfortable: a buffet breakfast at no extra charge, free Wi-Fi, a bar, a library, a terrace and a garden, heated bathroom floors, flat-screen televisions and hair dryers. A free area shuttle helps with local transfers, staff can arrange tours and tickets, and luggage can be stored at the front desk. Rollaway or extra beds are available for a surcharge. There is no spa and no parking, so the hotel suits travellers who spend their days on the mountain and want a quiet, practical base rather than a wellness resort.

The appeal is value and position. Breakfast is included, which alone saves a noticeable amount in a village where every meal costs more than at home, and the walk to the station is short enough to manage with luggage. The Riedstrasse address puts you a little way from the busiest part of the main street, which tends to mean a quieter night, while shops and restaurants remain close.

The public spaces suit the chalet mood. The library and bar are comfortable places to plan the next day, and the terrace and garden give you somewhere to sit in the sun after a walk. Rooms are in three categories, so compare sizes and sleeping arrangements, especially if you are travelling with children, since extra beds incur a charge. Bathrooms have heated floors, which is a welcome detail after a cold day on the lifts.

The walk to the Matterhorn Express and the Sunnegga funicular is longer than from the glacier-lift hotels, but the free shuttle and e-bus can help. For a sensible mid-priced stay with breakfast included, it is a good pick.