Possible ideas for travel between Zurich and Zermatt

I would recommend staying at the Radisson Blu hotel Zurich Airport the first night. Your idea of staying in Wengen for 3 nights before going to Zermatt sounds like a good possibility.

Wengen would work, provided you can get a hotel for 3 nights. Mid February is European school winter break time, so hotels there might be in short supply. You can get a few ski runs in at Wengen to get warmed up for Zermatt.

If you want to take a bit more scenic route to Wengen, go via Luzern to ride the Luzern-Interlaken Express over the Brunig Pass. Then going to Zermatt, take the RE train from Spiez to Brig, then change to Visp then Zermatt. It takes a little longer, but it is mostly over the mountains rather than completely under them in the Loetschberg base tunnel. Sit on the right hand side.

With an entire week, perhaps you can head to an area of Switzerland you have not yet visited, the Upper Engadine area around St. Moritz or Pontresina. Easy 3 hour trip from Zürich.

The downside might be that the ongoing journey from Pontresina or St. Moritz to Zermatt is an all day affair of 6 to 8 hours, but it is very scenic. You can take the Glacier Express to eliminate the numerous train changes otherwise required.

Editing to say I misunderstood and thought you had a whole week before Zermatt. Lola has given you a great idea with Bettmeralp. Maybe think about the Upper Engadine in the future!

The Radisson Blu right in the airport would be my choice at that hour. It is a nice hotel (and quiet), and has a fun bar and a pleasant restaurant. This would be much simpler and more relaxing that taking a shuttle or train elsewhere, checking in and dropping luggage, and then trying to find a bar and restaurant open at that hour on a Sunday.

This is also a Hyatt (actually 2) on The Circle, just across from the airport terminals, but that would be a longer walk.

AS to where to go for 3 nights, if you would like a small village, Wengen is a good choice. Or consider Bettmeralp in the Valais, a car-free village perched on a bench high above the Rhône Valley.

https://www.aletscharena.ch/en/aletsch-arena/places/bettmeralp

This would be a short detour off your path to Zermatt, and would add little to your total travel time (saving money as well as time).

Since you are skiers, I do not believe you will find much to like up at the Jungfraujoch. The train up involves 45 minutes in a dark tunnel through the Eiger. The view at the top is no better than many I have seen from the top of ski lifts in the US and Canada. And you can find more interesting views of the same glacier from the Bettmeralp area, without the expensive train ride through the tunnel.

https://www.aletscharena.ch/en/world-natural-heritage-site/great-aletsch-glacier

Thanks so much - booked the Raddisson and will see where I can find accommodation between Wengen and surrounds.