diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/services/network_service.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/services/network_service.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af1580d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/services/network_service.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'package:connectivity_plus/connectivity_plus.dart';
+
+/// Service for monitoring network connectivity status
+class NetworkService {
+  static final NetworkService _instance = NetworkService._internal();
+  factory NetworkService() => _instance;
+  NetworkService._internal();
+
+  final Connectivity _connectivity = Connectivity();
+  final StreamController<bool> _connectionController =
+      StreamController<bool>.broadcast();
+
+  Stream<bool> get connectionStream => _connectionController.stream;
+  bool _isConnected = true;
+
+  bool get isConnected => _isConnected;
+
+  /// Initialize the network service and start monitoring
+  void initialize() {
+    _connectivity.onConnectivityChanged.listen((List<ConnectivityResult> results) {
+      final result = results.isNotEmpty ? results.first : ConnectivityResult.none;
+      _isConnected = result != ConnectivityResult.none;
+      _connectionController.add(_isConnected);
+    });
+
+    // Check initial state
+    _checkConnection();
+  }
+
+  Future<void> _checkConnection() async {
+    final results = await _connectivity.checkConnectivity();
+    final result = results.isNotEmpty ? results.first : ConnectivityResult.none;
+    _isConnected = result != ConnectivityResult.none;
+    _connectionController.add(_isConnected);
+  }
+
+  void dispose() {
+    _connectionController.close();
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/utils/error_handler.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/utils/error_handler.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8549ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/utils/error_handler.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+/// Global error handler for consistent error messaging and logging
+class ErrorHandler {
+  /// Handle an error and optionally show a snackbar to the user
+  static void handleError(
+    dynamic error, {
+    required BuildContext context,
+    String? userMessage,
+    bool showSnackbar = true,
+  }) {
+    final displayMessage = _getDisplayMessage(error, userMessage);
+    
+    // Log to console (in production, send to analytics/crash reporting)
+    _logError(error, displayMessage);
+    
+    if (showSnackbar && context.mounted) {
+      ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
+        SnackBar(
+          content: Text(displayMessage),
+          action: SnackBarAction(
+            label: 'Dismiss',
+            onPressed: () {},
+          ),
+          duration: const Duration(seconds: 4),
+          backgroundColor: Colors.red[700],
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Get user-friendly error message
+  static String _getDisplayMessage(dynamic error, String? userMessage) {
+    if (userMessage != null) return userMessage;
+
+    if (error is SocketException) {
+      return 'No internet connection. Please check your network.';
+    } else if (error is TimeoutException) {
+      return 'Request timed out. Please try again.';
+    } else if (error is FormatException) {
+      return 'Invalid data format received.';
+    } else if (error.toString().contains('401')) {
+      return 'Authentication error. Please sign in again.';
+    } else if (error.toString().contains('403')) {
+      return 'You don\'t have permission to do that.';
+    } else if (error.toString().contains('404')) {
+      return 'Resource not found.';
+    } else if (error.toString().contains('500')) {
+      return 'Server error. Please try again later.';
+    } else {
+      return 'Something went wrong. Please try again.';
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Log error for debugging/analytics
+  static void _logError(dynamic error, String message) {
+    // In production, send to Sentry, Firebase Crashlytics, etc.
+    debugPrint('ERROR: $message');
+    debugPrint('Details: ${error.toString()}');
+    if (error is Error) {
+      debugPrint('Stack trace: ${error.stackTrace}');
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/// Wrapper for async operations with automatic error handling
+Future<T?> safeExecute<T>({
+  required Future<T> Function() operation,
+  required BuildContext context,
+  String? errorMessage,
+  bool showError = true,
+}) async {
+  try {
+    return await operation();
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (showError) {
+      ErrorHandler.handleError(
+        e,
+        context: context,
+        userMessage: errorMessage,
+      );
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/utils/retry_helper.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/utils/retry_helper.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..326a0c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/utils/retry_helper.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+
+/// Helper for retrying failed operations with exponential backoff
+class RetryHelper {
+  /// Retry an operation with exponential backoff
+  static Future<T> retry<T>({
+    required Future<T> Function() operation,
+    int maxAttempts = 3,
+    Duration initialDelay = const Duration(seconds: 1),
+    double backoffMultiplier = 2.0,
+    bool Function(dynamic error)? retryIf,
+  }) async {
+    int attempt = 0;
+    Duration delay = initialDelay;
+
+    while (true) {
+      try {
+        return await operation();
+      } catch (e) {
+        attempt++;
+
+        // Check if we should retry this error
+        if (retryIf != null && !retryIf(e)) {
+          rethrow;
+        }
+
+        if (attempt >= maxAttempts) {
+          rethrow; // Give up after max attempts
+        }
+
+        // Wait before retrying with exponential backoff
+        await Future.delayed(delay);
+        delay = Duration(
+          milliseconds: (delay.inMilliseconds * backoffMultiplier).round(),
+        );
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /// Retry specifically for network operations
+  static Future<T> retryNetwork<T>({
+    required Future<T> Function() operation,
+    int maxAttempts = 3,
+  }) async {
+    return retry(
+      operation: operation,
+      maxAttempts: maxAttempts,
+      retryIf: (error) {
+        // Retry on network errors, timeouts, and 5xx server errors
+        final errorStr = error.toString().toLowerCase();
+        return errorStr.contains('socket') ||
+            errorStr.contains('timeout') ||
+            errorStr.contains('500') ||
+            errorStr.contains('502') ||
+            errorStr.contains('503') ||
+            errorStr.contains('504');
+      },
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/offline_indicator.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/offline_indicator.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f217726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/offline_indicator.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import '../services/network_service.dart';
+
+/// Banner that appears at top of screen when offline
+class OfflineIndicator extends StatelessWidget {
+  const OfflineIndicator({super.key});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return StreamBuilder<bool>(
+      stream: NetworkService().connectionStream,
+      initialData: NetworkService().isConnected,
+      builder: (context, snapshot) {
+        final isConnected = snapshot.data ?? true;
+
+        return AnimatedContainer(
+          duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 300),
+          height: isConnected ? 0 : 30,
+          color: Colors.orange[700],
+          child: !isConnected
+              ? Center(
+                  child: Row(
+                    mainAxisAlignment: MainAxisAlignment.center,
+                    children: [
+                      Icon(Icons.wifi_off, size: 16, color: Colors.white),
+                      const SizedBox(width: 8),
+                      Text(
+                        'No internet connection',
+                        style: TextStyle(
+                          color: Colors.white,
+                          fontSize: 12,
+                          fontWeight: FontWeight.w500,
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                    ],
+                  ),
+                )
+              : null,
+        );
+      },
+    );
+  }
+}