and yes, I would like to borrow an instrument at destination if that were possible (even though it's nicer usually to play the one you are used to)

Yes, of course we all have our own instruments that we like, and would prefer to have them with us, but most of us can cope with playing another similar instrument. So not having your own favourite instrument with you on tour abroad would not matter as much if it were easy to hire a similar one in the destination country.

Such hire shops would focus on providing a range of high quality instruments, which would be properly set up and strung, etc. This could be arranged in advance, so for example, if a person wanted to use a Martin D-28 (to pick a name at random*) they could book it in advance, specify what strings they want, etc.

(* please let's not turn this into a Martin-bashing thread, or get into arguments about which guitar is 'best', etc.!)

Of course, other instruments and equipment could be hired too.

The benefits to the musician would be:

1. leave your own valuable (and possibly bulky and difficult to transport) instruments safe at home, so no worries about in-flight damage or loss

2. save on expensive overseas insurance for your own valuable instruments

3. save on paying for transporting your instrument (maybe having to book a seat for it)

4. less to carry - more scope for bringing /taking back other stuff on the flight

5. insurance is covered by hire company means you don't worry as much about damage or theft

The disadvantages for the musician:

1. you would be playing instruments you're not 100% familiar with

2. you would have to pay for the hire of the instruments, and the insurance cover for them

3. you may have to travel to pick up and drop off the instrument

Considering the disadvantages:

1. Unless you're very picky or have a most unusual instrument, most people hiring a similar instrument to the one they normally use would be able to manage very well. Maybe if you can only play one particular instrument, this isn't for you and you'd just have to bring your own over.

2. Of course there will be a cost, but it may be that the short term hire cost is less than the combined cost of booking a seat for the instrument, and the additional insurance for taking it overseas. For the longer trip, maybe not.

3. The hire co. could probably arrange to deliver the instrument and collect it for a small charge. The more hire shops there are, the less of a problem this would be.

Do any such shops exist already, either here or in the US?

If the UK government's proposed plans to stop us using cars come to fruition, we could even find this useful within the UK, when we are forced to travel to gigs by bus or train. Maybe every station would have an instrument hire shop on the platform (I hope it doesn't come to that, but who knows?)