> You might be misunderstanding. They parent may be saying that they download the maps and just search for a road and use it like a paper map.

Maybe? When hiking it makes some sense to forego GPS to save battery power. I didn't consider that possibility when I commented earlier, but in my defense the context of the comment is using maps without an internet connection.

> Also, "GPS" in the United States colloquially refers what people in the UK would call "sat-nav"

Sure, but sat-nav doesn't require internet service...