@bcrypt getting a VHF/UHF handheld would be benefical and is probably the cheapest category of radio to start with you don't have as much range as an HF radio but you can get a collapsobale directional antenna or something and walk up to a high point if you need more range.
The baofengs are nice and cheap but beware that they may not be legal in your country. I think some of the newer ones (gt-5r) have fixed some of the issues that led them to becoming banned.