Week in Portugal

I’ve never been to Portugal and I’m looking for some suggestions for a week long holiday by the coast in August with 4 friends. I’d like to avoid areas full of my drunken country men (I’m English), but having said that I’d also like some where with some nice bars and restaurants and not too family orientated. As I’m sure you can tell I’m really pretty ignorant of the options so if people want to just suggest areas of interest I can look into in more detail myself that would be great. But if any one has some experience of not to miss hotels/self catering villas please let me know. Ideal place: small town with a beautiful beach, maybe with some boats we can hire to go swimming/fishing, and a few good bars and restaurants.

Budget for accommodation is about €75 a night

Thanks in Advance.

Carvoerio was very nice in may 2010, probably more English in August.

I think you need to decide which part of Portugal's 1800 km long coastline you want to focus on. Most Brits have heard of the relatively short coast of the Algarve but there's much, much more to coastal Portugal than that. Remember, it runs from the border with Galicia (Spain) in the north to the far eastern end of the Algarve in the south. There's a hell of a lot of coastline, and difference, between the two.

not too family orientated
Not sure what you mean by this.

I think #2 is right, there is a lot of coast line in Portugal :-)

Also, do you want to make daytrips or do you want to focus on beach only?

If beach only in combination with a nice town, I could recommend Tarifa in the Algarve.
There's Isla de Tarifa, a little island close to Tarifa with nice white beaches.

Well where would you go and why? I'm open to all suggestions.

See point 1 of the first post here. You are not going to get a consensus of opinion on here so you'll end up even more confused.

Brinky, I guess you are talking about TAVIRA, Tarifa is in Andalucia (Spain)

Try Armacao de Pera. It's a pretty town just north of Faro. Approx 40 mins but well worth the journey with or without a car.The Portuguese go to Armacao ( pronounced arma say o ) for their hols. The restuarant food is generally of a high quality and shopping for food is easy in the supermarkets etc.
Great beach, wide clean and soft sand is ideal for everyone. Gale beach (pronounced galley)is nearby for a change and where you can get jet-skis on hire normally. Albufeira is a little further if you want to go there. Opposite direction will take you inland to Porches, or to some great little beaches of Ferraudo and Benagil to name but a few. Carvoiera and Prai da Rocha are also not far and well worth a day out or 2 to see. Lots of coves tucked away all along the coast line from Armacao town, along past Senorha da Rocha villa complex ( handy to stay here maybe) but some fantastic views and sunsets too. See the fishermen return with daily catches of fish which you can buy if you have enough euros in your pocket, or maybe get a boat out for the day or do a spot of fishing yourself.
Have a great time realxing with your mates. Portugal is agreat place for all ages to enjoy.