I think the quality of the lens is the most important thing and being able to zoom in to get those faraway shots is vital for me.
Lot’s of the Canon and Nikon range these days have autofocus zoom lenses and a raft of auto set up modes which give you your point and press ease of use as well as the ability to take better pictures.
Might I recommend the Canon EOS 300 or something similar. I got one recently with two lenses included for under £300.