I would recommend the same scope as I have myself: a Celestron CGEM 925.
Buy to your budget. Everyone here has their own opinions as to what is "good" and it is usually a relative term since everyone has a different budget!
Assuming you want to keep options open for later photography...
If your budget is less than $2000, go an HEQ5 with an 8" reflector.
If your budget is less than $4000, go a CGEM 925. While the C11 would be better visually, the 9.25 give you more room to play with in terms of weight when you add cameras later down the track.
The CGEM is smooth, good looking and easy to use. I sent a long time trying to juggle which scope to buy that would be portable, good quality and keep my options well and truly open for later imaging. I found exactly what I needed in the CGEM 925.
Some people find dobs portable and easy to use. I used my 10" dob for many years and found it so. However, I set up my CGEM in less than 10 minutes each night (including star alignment for goto). The functions and extras within the controller are all useful and easy to use. The OTA (optical tube assembly - the scope itself) is easy to carry. Much easier than my 10" dob tube was!
Some people go with a different scope for each thing they do (e.g. scope for planetary, scope for imaging, scope for DSO observing, etc...). For me, the CGEM 925 is a jack of all trades.... and I love it!
I got mine new from Andrews for $3500. I think they have gone up a couple of hundred since... but you would have to check.