i dont know if the law has changed recently but my roommate says he goes to cuba every time he travels home to the states. He just makes sure he does it on the way back and goes via canada or mexico. All that happens is that you get singled out for additional screening and questioning when they see the cuba stamp on your passport. You are a U.S citizen so they cant not let you back home.

Anyway I just got back from bohol, phillipines. On alona beach there is a strip of hotels and restaurants and resorts right on the beach and there is an excellent reef to scuba dive on right on the beach as well. Everyone who i ever needed to deal with was able to speak english and all signage is in english. There was a few backpackers and young folks but the bulk of the tourists there (and it is very touristy, though nothing like pattaya or bali) were rich asians, and a few conspicuous sexpat westerners with their girlfriends.

I was stealthing onto the rich henan resort at the end of the beach where my family was staying. I might not have enjoyed alona beach as much if i couldnt hang out there but i believe you can also pay for access to their facilities for the day.

It was all very cheap but it wasnt quite the relaxing beach holiday i wanted since i was dealing with insomnia and it was stressful feeling like you were getting ripped off on change all the time and feeling like everything i ate or drank was playing russian roulette.