Messaging with no signal at festivals, on trails and at sea

“Full signal at the car park, and then 80,000 people show up and the network completely gives up.” That’s how one festival-goer on Reddit put it. Trails and ships have the same problem for different reasons.

Festivals

• Install the app with your group before you arrive.
• Agree a fixed meeting point anyway. Bluetooth won’t find a friend at the other stage.
• Use it for “at the bar by the main stage” messages within your area.

Hiking

Best offline messenger

What I like most of it that it works without internet, so we can use it even while hiking.

★★★★★ App Store review, Turkey, 5 August 2025, salihaksit · App Store

On a trail, hikers spread out. Bluetooth works for a group walking together or regrouping at a hut, not between a summit and a car park. For real safety, carry a device made for it: a satellite messenger or iPhone’s satellite features where available.

Cruises

Ship Wi-Fi is often expensive. Families on board can message each other between nearby decks or cabins without buying a package, within Bluetooth range.

Before you go

• Charge a power bank.
• Test the app at home with the people you’ll be with.

Read more: offline messaging at festivals, travel and hiking