My best suggestion is to go to a place that will let you try out several different kayaks. Everyone has different taste and your body size will also determine what is best for you. There are quite a few different models out there and the only way to know what works best for you is to try some out. Personally, I would try to stay away from Pelican kayaks because of the poor quality, but some people swear by them because they are inexpensive and do exactly what they want. Just remember you get what you pay for. I would also suggest if you are on a budget, you may want to find a used kayak in good shape. If you can, try it out before you buy it. Ask the person if they can meet you somewhere you can paddle to make sure it's something you like. I found out the hard way on this...I found a Perception Prism that was in my price range, looked at it, liked the way it looked and what came with it and bought it before trying it out. The first time I took the yak out, I found out very quickly the stability was WAY different than the Ocean Kayak Scrambler that a co-worker let me borrow to see how I would like Kayaking. I almost dumped myself out of it just reaching for the paddle. It really scared me and I came very close to selling it. It took several times going out before I started to feel comfortable with it, but I have stuck with it and I have grown to like the speed and quietness it has on the water. I loved the stability the The OK had, but the trade-off came with lot of hull slap and more drag on the water - thus reducing speed potential. The Perception Prism glides very quietly and quickly on the water, but the tradeoff is stability. I have to be very careful around waves and wakes from powerboats, otherwise I'm going for a swim. I'm not sure if I could have gone more from one extreme to the other between the two kayaks. I would not recommend a Perception Prism for a beginner kayak.
Regards,
Tom