What are some good beginner reptiles?

That is a good question. I think as far as easiest, least expensive, and personable, I would vote leopard gecko. They are available almost everywhere, and there are tons of morphs, with different colours & patterns. The care and husbandry is not too complicated. And if you get one as a baby, or an adult already used to handling, they are quite tame and personable.

Quite a few people would say bearded dragon, and I won't say they aren't good for a beginner, but they can be a bit complicated. They are very sensitive in their needs for basking lights, light cycles, uvb, and heat. They also have somewhat complicated nutritional needs. They are not hard, nor expensive to feed, but there are certain things you should and should not feed them, and they do need to be fed everyday, and a varied diet is best. They also tend to be, needy. They really like people, and they like to be out and interact. Which is good, unless you don't have the time. So they are not a pet you can put in a small tank, leave alone, and feed three times a week. And there are tons of people who will dispense bad advice on them nowadays, starting with "I had a bearded dragon for a year until he died." A captive Beardie should live at least 4 years, probably over 7. So these people, in reality, are teaching other people how to kill a bearded dragon in less than a year.

Ok, I'll get off of my soapbox now. They do make great beginner pets if you learn about them and how to keep them so they thrive. There are other geckos that can be good beginner pets, crested geckos are good. Fence lizards and anoles are good as well, albeit not as handleable.

For snakes, the ubiquitous ball python is a good beginner snake, calm, easy to set up an environment for, and readily available in a variety of morphs. Captive bred corn snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, and rat snakes also make good beginner pets, though they do sometimes take longer to get accustomed to frequent handling. And a boa constrictor actually makes one of the best beginner snakes, as long as you are aware of the size potential of the subspecies or locality you have, and prepared for it to grow to it's adult size. Very calm and inquisitive, and fairly easy to care for.

The thing I have always told people is to make sure you have done a little research on the animal you are getting, and that you really want it. Too many people buy a reptile on impulse, and three months later are bored with it, and it becomes neglected. Or the little baby grows and needs a too big of an enclosure, &/or becomes too much work. Or they don't know how to care for it when they first get it, and then can't get or afford to get the necessary items they need.