I find people that keep the species they really desire and is not in for it for the sake of impressing other people, they tend to take better care than if they were to go with a "beginner." However beginner snakes usually fall in with: Corn Snakes, Milk Snakes or king snakes, Ball Pythons, rosy boas, Kenyan Sand Boas, Spotted Pythons or Mac Pythons, and Children's Pythons.
It is up to you what you want really... Lot of people like the appearance of the Kenyan Sand Boas, but they find them boring to observe, others get freaked out by how active Corn Snakes and King Snakes are. Some don't like thick pythons, while others don't like skinny pythons.