Binoculars are probably the most portable and intuitive piece of observing equipment you can buy. The consensus seems to be that beginners should start with a decent dobsonian-mounted newtonian reflector. The best telescope is the one you will use the most. On the other hand, any short-tube 80mm refractor on a good Bogen tripod can be stashed in the back seat of your car and follow you wherever you go. You're guaranteed to have some frustrating moments waiting for the 'wobbles' to stop when viewing objects at high magnification if you're using a shaky tripod.
Eyepiece quality is very important as well.
You could have the best scope in the world, but if you drop a cheap eyepiece into the thing, odds are you'll be disappointed with the results. If you can afford one, or have the skills to 'engineer' one yourself, a dew shield or a dew zapper can come in very handy for refractor owners. A dew shield is an 'extension' or tube that slips on the end of your telescope and helps to prevent dew from forming on your objective lens. This happens when a telescope's lens gets cold enough that water vapor in the surrounding air begins to condense and start sticking to said lens. Once this starts happening, it's VERY hard to continue using the scope unless you can warm up the lens again.