I agree with bits of what everyone has posted.. IMO veiled chams (i have no experience with other chams) are fairly easy to keep as long as you know what you are doing and what is required by them. However, in general, chams are not handling lizards, and will not tolerate lengthy periods of being "cuddled"
I would certainly not recommend a cham as a first-time lizard, and Bearded Dragons and geckos are the well-known "beginner" species. I would look about at other lizards and consider owning another that takes your fancy before diving in at the deep end with a cham. On the other hand, if no other species grabs you then there is no point, IMO, in buying and keeping something which you do not particularly want.
