Coast sailor. It was probably my third game ... found a nearby swamp with some meadow next to it. Sailed the resources over and built a base with a forge and the whole nine yards. Found ZERO crypts. Now I sail the coast and if I don't see at least 2 or 3 crypts from the water I consider it not viable and keep looking.

More recently I've upped my requirements to include a fire geyser. I really like being able to farm surtling cores, get free coal, and have a place to run if I trigger an abomination early on

Additionally, if you sail just far enough outside the swamp that you're not actually "in" the biome, you don't get the rain and poor visibility and you can get a pretty good look at what's in there. I give the plains a wide berth ... just close enough to get the coast on the map.

That said, actually entering any biome for the first time I work from the coastline in. Seems to me there are fewer mobs along the coastline and I can't easily get surrounded if I'm backed up against the water.