The duration of improvements in well-being following vacation is an area of current debate. We investigated the time course of daily ratings of the restfulness of sleep, positive mood and physical ill-being following a three-week stay at a health resort. 133 female and 165 male Austrians with a mean age of 59.1 (range 31 to 75) years participated in the study. Mood and the quality of sleep improved during the stay. Following the stay, the restfulness of sleep showed a gradual decline during the 4-week observation period without reaching prerespite levels. The level of positive mood dropped suddenly after coming home without showing any further changes. Ill-being showed a marked increase in the first week home followed by a decrease to an intermediate level. These response patterns are discussed in terms of carry-over, contrast and situation effects of well-being.