Description
If you have never visited Zermatt, you are in for a rare treat. This car-free, historic village is very special, full of romance and character and the substantial recent investment in the infrastructure means that Zermatt is now a ski area to rival the best in the world.
Chalet Zaphir is a contemporary, stylish and spacious apartment in the centre of Zermatt. Equidistant (10 minutes by foot or a few minutes by electric taxi) between the Matterhorn Express and the Sunnegga Express, staying here allows you to benefit in equal measure from Zermatt’s extensive skiing, the extraordinary views of the Matterhorn and the village’s unique charm.
Chalet Zaphir occupies the west side of the top two floors of the building and shares a basic communal staircase that separates the lounge with the bedrooms, with Chalet Louise. The large open plan living space on the top floor has extremely large floor to ceiling windows with direct views of the Matterhorn. The modern look is light and airy and enhanced by an open fireplace.
The large south-facing balcony outside the living area is the most wonderful place to soak up the sun and enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular and iconic views.
The bedrooms range from large to extremely spacious – a luxury which can be hard to find in a premier Alpine resort. All have en-suite bathrooms, flat screen TVs and DVD players. As a result, they are great for adults wanting a little peace and quiet to read a book or watch a film, or for children wanting some play space!
We think great food, wine and service are prerequisites of a successful skiing holiday and our Original service will ensure that you can focus on skiing, spending quality time with friends and family and recharging your batteries. Assuming you can find space after one of Zermatt’s legendary mountain lunches, your chef will delight you with creative and exquisite dishes and your host will pour well matched wines to complement them. The whole Scott Dunn team is dedicated to ensuring that your skiing holiday is the best you have ever had.
Guide price
£1,415 per person per week (Jan)
£1,415 based on 2 sharing for 7 nights in a catered chalet in mid January. The price includes scheduled flights, transfers, a Scott Dunn chef, hosts and food. Includes Champagne reception.
Accommodation
Chalet Zaphir has 4 spacious and stylish bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. There are three twin rooms and a King size double room. All rooms have flat screen TVs, DVD players and some English channels. The bathrooms are modern, spacious and well appointed with a shower above every bath.
Because the central staircase serves the whole building, all rooms can be locked and rooms 2, 3 and 4 share a landing and can be closed off as a 3 room suite.
| Room 1 - Double/twin | A spacious bedroom (around 35m2) on the top floor under the exposed wooden beams it has an authentic chalet feel. Large en-suite bathroom with roll top bath and shower above the bath. Two armchairs and a flat screen TV with satellite and a DVD player. The bedroom has a balcony overlooking the village and also has views of the Rothorn. |
| Room 2 - Double/twin | An extremely spacious bedroom (around 30m2) with a large balcony which has stunning views of the Matterhorn. The room can be set up as a double or a twin and the large en-suite bathroom has a roll top bath with a shower above it. The room has armchairs and a flat screen TV with satellite and a DVD player. |
| Room 3 - Double | This smaller room (around 15m2) has a king size bed and en-suite bathroom with shower above the bath. The room also has an armchair, desk, flat screen TV with satellite and a DVD player. |
| Room 4 -Double/twin | A very spacious (around 35m2) bedroom which also has a sofa. The en-suite bathroom has a shower above the bath. The bedroom has a balcony overlooking the village and also has views of the Rothorn. Flat screen TV with satellite and a DVD player. |
Childcare
Scott Dunn pioneered skiing holidays with childcare and this is an optional extra that many families consider indispensable. We offer childcare from 4 months and ensure that children have the most fantastic holidays and that parents can completely relax with peace of mind that their family is in great hands. Your children can be taken to and collected from ski lessons and will be kept entertained with a varied and imaginative activity programme and given healthy home made lunches and snacks.
Our childcare staff are qualified professionals and guests at Zaphir can opt to have a private nanny service. Babysitting is available too. A wide range of equipment for babies and toddlers can be provided to all guests on request, mostly free of charge.
| Scott Dunn Private Nannies | Qualified (CACHE trained or similar) nannies who are recruited for their mature but fun approach to childcare. Scott Dunn offers pre-season training, which includes a comprehensive first aid course. Nannies provide a structured day including food, entertainment and transport to and from lessons. |
| Baby sitting | Baby sitting in the evenings is available on a request basis and is approximately 15 Euros per hour until midnight after this time the charge is 20 euros per hour which is payable locally. |
Facilities
The living room has a flat screen television, DVD player, CD and iPod player and a selection of games and telephone. There is wireless broadband.
On the ground floor there is a shared ski and boot room with heated boot warmers.
| Lounge | TV, DVD and CD player, iPod dock. Games Console and games. |
| Fireplace | Open fireplace in sitting room |
| Ski/Boot Room | A shared ski and boot room with boot warmers and ample space for skiing equipment. |
| Lift | Shared elevator serving all floors |
| Wireless ADSL | Broadband wi-fi. |
Activities
Zermatt has plenty to offer guests other than skiing. The village itself is a pleasure to explore, whether on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage, with a wealth of shops, restaurants and historic buildings to enjoy. Exploring the mountain is also straightforward with mountain railways and some wonderful walks, whether on foot or on snowshoes. If you would like a really close view of the Matterhorn, a helicopter flight around it is truly breathtaking.
Zermatt is much more of a cultural centre than many other resorts. The English church is a highlight, especially at Christmas and art exhibitions, concerts, films, walking tours are plentiful. Every April, the Zermatt Unplugged music festival attracts big name acts.
There are also plenty more active possibilities including the fitness centre, indoor tennis and squash, gym, heli-skiing, ice skating, paragliding, stunning walking tours, gorge adventures, ice climbing and tobogganing
Finally, if all of this sounds exhausting, there are some top quality spas where you can be pampered to your heart’s content.
Services
Our Original service is the foundation of Scott Dunn upon which our reputation as the benchmark for top quality chalet holidays has been built. Your chef and host will greet you on arrival with a Champagne reception, provide delicious, carefully prepared meals to your and your children’s tastes and will do everything to ensure that your stay is thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing. Please visit our Original chalets page for more information about our service.
| Chef | Your experienced chef will design a delicious menu tailored to your dietary requirements and preferences. Our Original dining service includes breakfast (full English, daily special and continental options), afternoon tea, canapés and four-course dinners on six days per week. Children's menus are varied, imaginative and healthy. |
| Host | Our Original chalets include the services of a friendly chalet host. Because a chalet is a home from home, your host is an integral part of the success of your holiday and we only employ hosts who combine a professional service background with natural charm. Bringing you tea in bed in the morning and serving you canapés and wines are the basics but our hosts go out of their way to ensure that you are able to relax on your holiday. |
| Chalet Manager | Your Chalet Manager will be an experienced hospitality professional who will take responsibility for ensuring that your skiing holiday meets and exceeds your expectations. They will arrange transfers, lift passes, ski guiding and tuition, advise you on where to ski, where to have lunch and where not to and address any problems that come up. |
| Beauty Therapist | In Zermatt, Scott Dunn has a dedicated beauty therapist available during the day and in the early evening to provide a full range of relaxing treatments including facials and massages. |
| Private Nanny | Scott Dunn private nannies are available on request. All our nannies are fully qualified with a mature but fun approach to childcare. |
| Ski lessons & guiding | Years of experience have enabled us to identify the best ski schools and guides who combine local knowledge, technical expertise and excellent communication to enable you to make the most of your skiing holiday, whether you are a beginner seeking confidence, an intermediate wanting to improve or an advanced skier looking to go off piste or heliskiing. NB book early in school holiday weeks. |
| Ski equipment | We have identified recommended suppliers who are specialists in ski equipment and will provide high quality skis and boots together with the best possible service and advice to guarantee you the most comfortable and most appropriate equipment to enable you to get the most from your skiing. |
When to travel
Zermatt offers excellent conditions throughout a long season. Skiing is well under way by early December and even late November due to high altitude glacial terrain around 4000m. As the season progresses, lower runs offer great conditions too and the skiing below 2000m is appealing when it gets really cold. By April when other resorts can be knee deep in slush, Zermatt will have the best conditions in the Alps. Check out the Zermatt Unplugged music festival in April too.
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Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Zermatt, Switzerland
Chalet Zaphir is in a prime location, just 3 minutes walk from the village centre. The closest ski lifts are the Sunnegga Express and Matterhorn gondola which are only a 10 minute walk away or 5 minute bus or taxi ride.
Geneva 244km, Zurich 267km, Turin 307km.
How to get there
Scheduled British Airways flights from London to Geneva followed by a luxury coach transfer (2hrs 30 mins) and a 15 minute picturesque mountain train ride to the heart of Zermatt. Train transfers from Geneva or Zurich airports are also possible (but slightly longer and may involve platform changes). Helicopter transfers also possible.
Additional notes
Communal staircaseChalet Louise and chalet Zaphir are 3 and 2 floor penthouse apartments on either side of one building. Bedrooms on the lower floors and Wellness are accessed by a communal staircase, lift and landings.
